TYLER (KYTX) - Put down the phone - it's a new approach in getting teens to drive safely.
Saturday, across the nation and in Canada, State Farm held an event called Celebrate my Drive, to get teens talking about distracted driving.
At the Tyler event, students told CBS 19 they are trying to change some shocking statistics about teen car crashes.
"Plenty of my friends have been in accidents, and I've been in an accident," says Robert E. Lee student Jamin Spillers.
"I've had a couple of friends in accidents because of texting and driving, drinking and driving as well," says another Lee student, Jalen Johnson.
Car crashes are the number one cause of death among teens in the U.S. That's why State Farm agents are leading an effort to change that statistic, and they're taking a whole new approach.
"Instead of using scare tactics and that kind of approach, which only works short term, instead State Farm has partnered with a bunch of local businesses to create excitement about, 'Hey you're driving now, you're a teenager, but there are some things you need to know about the road and things we can provide to help you avoid crashes,'" says State Farm Agency Field Executive Tim Anthony.
The students say the fun, positive approach is working.
"It makes me want to learn to be a safer driver and just be completely aware of my surroundings," Spillers says.
Johnson has been driving for almost three years now, and says the most important thing he's learned is how to avoid distracted driving.
"I didn't really realize how serious some of the distractions could be," he says.
A growing distraction adding to the teen driving death rates is texting and driving. State Farm's goal is to tell kids, if they get that text while they're driving, it can wait.
The movement is causing excitement about safety, and nixing dangerous habits.
"Definitely texting and driving," Johnson says. "That is the number one."
Tyler students want their community to know they're committing to safe driving, and hope other teens will follow in their footsteps.
State Farm's Steer Clear program provides information on keeping teens' eyes on the road. For more information, click here: http://teendriving.statefarm.com/
