Beginning July 1st, 2008 Arizona's teen drivers will have new restrictions on learner – Class G – permits before they can acquire a Class D or full license privileges.

Numerous studies have found that states with limitations on teen driving practices – like those being implemented in Arizona – can reduce fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers significantly. Please go to our link New Arizona Teen Driving Limits to learn more about the new law.

Auto insurers in Arizona are stepping forward to help teens and their parents prepare for this new responsibility. Below are just a few examples of programs that AIC members offer policyholders to help make teens better, safer and more aware drivers.

Farm Bureau Financial Services – Teen Driver Safe Driving Pledge
http://www.fbfs.com/fbfs/Rhythmyx/content/1168.cfm

Farm Bureau Financial Services* offers a variety of resources for teen drivers and their parents at its Web site: http://www.FBFS.com. By following the Young Drivers link, users can access a downloadable safe driving pledge, which provides a structured approach for teens and parents to begin the discussion of safe driving guidelines. By signing the pledge, parents and teens recognize the basic expectations for driving performance long before any issues present themselves.

Farm Bureau has created an Auto Glove Box Organizer that can help teen drivers maintain composure, ask all the right questions and have the proper documents available should an accident occur. With less experience behind the wheel, teens are statistically more likely to experience auto accidents, so being prepared with this useful resource at hand is an important step toward handling an unforeseen incident. The Auto Glove Box Organizer is available through Farm Bureau agents, or a downloadable version can be found at FBFS.com.

The Web site also provides links to safe driving information for teens from various resources, including the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, National Safety Council, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Edmunds.com Teen Driver Safety Series.

*Property-casualty insurance products offered through Western Agricultural Insurance Company+ and Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company+/West Des Moines, IA.
+Affiliated and companies of Farm Bureau Financial Services

Farmers Insurance – Y.E.S. Program (Your Essential to Safety)
http://www.farmers.com/FarmComm/WebSite/html/auto/YES/Yes_1.html

As part of the Y.E.S. (You’re Essential to Safety) Program, Farmers Insurance sponsors a video and Roadbook called WRECKED. This educational information will help teens see what it means to make good and bad decisions on the road.

The Video and WRECKED Roadbook cover:
Seatbelts, Road Rage, Collisions and Injuries, Cell Phones, Speeding, Tailgating, and Excessive Driving, Cost of Insurance and Wrecks, Driving and the Law, Passenger and Driver Behaviors, Drinking and Driving, and Safety Checklist

State Farm – Steer Clear Program
http://www.statefarm.com/learning/be_safe/road/teen.asp

Steer Clear Safe Driver Discount - In order to initially qualify for this discount, the following requirements must be met:

All male and unmarried female drivers under 25 years of age who are assigned to the automobile must:

• have no at-fault accidents or moving violations in the three year period prior to the time the discount is initially applied (Note - In some states certain accidents and moving violations may not disqualify you), and

• have successfully completed the State Farm Steer Clear program, which needs to be administered by a State Farm agent. The program includes the driver watching a video presentation, reading a safe-driving magazine and completing a driver's log to document driving experiences.

• All private passenger automobiles in the household must be insured with State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company or State Farm Fire And Casualty Company (however, none can be written under an assigned risk plan).