Second Year of SafeSummerTN Launches to Promote Safe Driving for Teens During Deadly Summer Months

NASHVILLE, TN--(Marketwired - May 4, 2015) - Car crashes are the number one cause of teenage deaths in the United States and the period through Memorial Day until Labor Day is the deadliest for drivers ages 15-20. To curb these deadly statistics in Tennessee, SafeSummerTN (SafeSummerTN.com), administered by Driving Global Awareness in partnership with Nashville-based technology company splitsecnd and MADD Tennessee, is launching its second annual campaign today geared at raising awareness for the need for teens to practice safe driving habits over the deadly summer season. The campaign aims to spark conversation between parents and teens to facilitate safe driving conversations and decrease avoidable crashes and incidents.

Like last year, SafeSummerTN.com will be a portal for parents to sign up to receive a free splitsecnd device with three months free service for their driving teens during the deadliest summer months. At the end of three months parents can either return the device at no cost or continue service for $14.95 a month.

"Teenagers are driving more during the summer and with less supervision than they have during the school year, yet surveys show that only 25% of parents have talked seriously with their kids about driving," said Mel Taylor, CEO at splitsecnd. "We know parents are terribly worried about their teenagers' driving habits and believe there is an opportunity for them to take a more active role in ensuring that they drive safely. We want to help continue the conversation through SafeSummerTN and the resources it provides."

SafeSummerTN.com provides useful tips on safe driving practices as well as a pledge parents can share with teenagers to reward safe driving. Splitsecnd is a Nashville-based technology that is a multi-purpose crash detection and live trip data technology. If the driver is in a crash splitsecnd can automatically call for help. The device works in any car.

Facts on teen driving, summer driving and distracted driving:

• Traffic accidents are the #1 cause of teenage deaths in the United States.
• Teen drivers are four times likelier to crash than older drivers.
• Teenagers are driving 44% more during the summer and with less supervision.
• The 99 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the deadliest for drivers ages 15-20.
• 7 of the top 10 deadliest driving days of the year for teens occur in June, July and August.
• Only 25% of parents have had a serious talk with their kids about driving.
• Texting or talking on a cellphone while driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.
• Texting while driving causes 1,600,000 accidents per year.
• A quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive.
• 20 percent of teens admit that they have extended, multi-message text conversations while driving.

"We are focused on helping teen drivers understand the dangers they face on the road," said Kate Ritchie, state program director at MADD Tennessee. "We partnered with splitsecnd because they share that same vision as us. Their device provides protection for teens that are on the road and provides peace-of-mind to parents."

To learn more about educating your teenagers on safe summer driving and become eligible for a free splitsecnd unit, visit www.SafeSummerTN.com. For more information on splitsecnd or to order a device visit www.splitsecnd.com.

Driving Global Awareness
Driving Global Awareness (DGA) Fund was founded in 2014 to educate and empower global citizens to eliminate distracted driving through strategic partnerships and social initiatives. DGA's flagship program, SafeSummer, began in early 2014 in an effort to raise and equip parents and teenagers with the education and tools to keep young drivers safe throughout the summer months. With the help of sponsors, DGA is able to provide free, lifesaving devices to teen drivers throughout the summer months as well as materials to help educate families about ways to keep teens safer throughout the summer.

Driving Global Awareness was established as a fund component of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, a 501(c)3 located in Nashville, TN, which is committed to working with DGA to help find creative and entrepreneurial ways to help local, national & global communities thrive while providing legal and professional support.

Since DGA's inception, we have helped support and provide technological and educational resources to hundreds of teens and parents across Tennessee with the goal of eradicating distracted driving so that every driver, regardless of age, is safe and connected on the road.

To learn more about DGA or the SafeSummer Program, visit DrivingGlobalAwareness.org.

About splitsecnd

splitsecnd can be plugged into the 12V outlet of any vehicle, no matter the make, model, or year. In the event of a crash, the device automatically calls the dedicated splitsecnd emergency response center which ensures the driver gets help immediately. If the driver is unable to respond after a crash, splitsecnd can determine the location of the crash and send coordinates and medical information on the user to first responders, police and paramedics.

In addition to crash detection, splitsecnd gives drivers multiple safety features, including a help button and an app-enabled GPS locator system. splitsecnd allows friends and family to monitor the location and safety of a driver from a smartphone, tablet, or computer. In addition, families of drivers with Android-enabled phones can use splitsecnd to see if he or she is texting or using the phone in any other way while driving.