NJM Receives Teen Driver Safety Leadership Award

On Oct 17, 2016

In recognition of its driver education programs and commitment to teen driver safety, West Trenton-based, NJM Insurance Company was awarded the National Safety Council’s Teen Driver Safety Leadership Award at an October 15^th recognition ceremony held as part of the 2016 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress & Expo in Anaheim, California.

Each year since 2009, the NSC and General Motors Foundation present the coveted award to individuals or organizations that work to improve teen driver safety and save lives through dedicated community outreach and innovative educational programming. Winners are chosen based on evidence and outcomes that demonstrate a measurable shift in behaviors or attitudes which result in a reduction of teen crashes. The NSC acknowledges that car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, but that many crashes are preventable.

“NJM has demonstrated a long term commitment to reducing teen driver crashes by creating, supporting and promoting safety programs that save lives and prevent injuries on our roads,” said Kathy Bernstein, NSC’s Senior Manager of Teen Driving Initiatives. “We are excited to recognize their contributions that are helping to keep our most vulnerable drivers safe.”

“We are honored to have been selected by the National Safety Council for this award and recognized for our commitment to safety and service to our policyholders and the communities we are privileged to serve,” said Bernie Flynn, President and CEO of NJM. “Our safety program has reached more than 65,000 students and with the national increase in distracted driving incidents, educating young drivers and providing them with tools that will help keep them safe is now more important than ever.”

NJM was nominated for the award by Stone Harbor, NJ residents Dan and Pat Fitzpatrick, parents of the late Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Lenape Regional School District student who died in a single vehicle accident on April 26, 2009. Ryan was one of six students from that district killed behind the wheel between 2007 and 2010. In 2009, the Fitzpatricks researched tools that would help support the district’s driver education curriculum and provide a better learning experience for soon-to-be teen drivers in the area. This research led to a fundraising campaign to raise money for driving simulators. NJM became the first company to join that effort through the donation of a state-of-the- art virtual driving simulator.

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