Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens in the United States. More than 6,000 teens are killed each year as the result of a motor vehicle crash, and an additional 300,000 are injured. The Allstate Foundation launched a comprehensive teen safe driving program in 2005 that seeks to develop innovative, teeninformed approaches to raise awareness of the issue, and ultimately, to help save lives and reduce injuries.

The Allstate Foundation supports other non- profit organizations' efforts, like that of the South Carolina Chapter of the National Safety Council's (SCNSC) "Alive at 25" program, to help tackle America's problem of teen driving fatalities.

The Allstate Foundation in the Southeast Region has awarded a $50,000 grant to the SCNSC in support of its "Alive at 25" youth driver education program. The Allstate Foundation grant will provide law enforcement training and scholarships for South Carolina young adults to take the "Alive at 25" course as well as fund additional program support throughout the state.

"Allstate believes it is very important for corporations to take an active interest in the communities in which they serve," said Julianna Sparks, Foundation chair for Allstate's Southeast region.

"This $50,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation will help thousands of young people in South Carolina learn the importance of safe driving through the 'Alive at 25' program," said Brooke Russell, executive director of the SCNSC. "The Allstate Foundation is a great partner of SCNSC because they are just as passionate about the cause of safe teen driving as we are. It's wonderful to be able to partner with an organization that is working toward the same very important goal - to reduce the number of teen fatalities due to car crashes."

The National Safety Council (NSC)'s "Alive at 25" course, offered to drivers ages 15- 24, is designed to be an early intervention program to help prevent traffic violations, collisions and fatalities. The focus is to help educate young drivers to adopt safer driving practices, take responsibility for their behavior in various driving situations, and to be aware of many typical driving hazards. The NSC reports that although young drivers only represent 15% of all licensed drivers, they are the drivers in 28% of all traffic crashes.