October 13, 2025

COUNTRY Financial® Puts Spotlight on Saving Lives Behind the Wheel During Teen Driver Safety Week

COUNTRY Financial is joining with safety advocates around the nation to raise awareness about the unique risks teen drivers face — and the life-saving steps families can take to protect them during Teen Driver Safety Week this October.

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. Inexperience, smartphone use, texting while driving and other distractions, speeding, excessive passengers and low seat belt use all contribute to thousands of preventable tragedies each year. This week, parents, educators, and safety advocates are encouraged to engage in meaningful conversations with teens about responsible driving habits.

“Teen crashes are a public health emergency,” says Lois She-Tom, Product Management Director at COUNTRY Financial. “As someone who is a mother to a teen driver myself, I urge all parents to be proactive and initiate key conversations about safe, engaged driving. Talk to your teens about the dangers of distracted driving, the importance of seat belts, and the responsibility that comes with being behind the wheel.”

Key Safety Tips for Teen Drivers include:

• Embrace seat belt use and always buck up. Seat belts save lives.
• Put the smartphone away. No text or call is worth a life.
• Obey speed limits. Speeding is a major factor in teen crashes.
• Limit passengers. More passengers mean more distractions.
• Never drive impaired. Alcohol, drugs, and driving never mix.
• Stay engaged. From eating to applying makeup and dealing with pets, make sure you focus on the road and not things happening around you in your vehicle.

She-Tom also recommends that parents explore utilizing a telematics device provided by their insurance company. “The COUNTRY Financial DriverIQ® Program uses smartphone app technology to give you feedback on your driving so you can become an even safer driver and earn a car insurance discount,” adds She-Tom.

The app tells you your current DriverIQ discount and your projected savings at renewal. “It also provides important details about your driving habits behind the wheel so that you can have safe driving conversations with your teen driver."

COUNTRY representatives are available to work with parents and teen drivers to better understand the requirements in their states such as graduating driving laws that eases new drivers into earning a driver’s license. The laws typically detail number of passengers allowed and the amount of supervised driving time required.

COUNTRY also offers a safe driving course for teens called Simply Drive®, which can result in a discount on their premium. 

Media contact

news@countryfinancial.com