The Hanover Foundation Announces Grant to Support Innovative Driver's Education Program

WORCESTER, Mass., April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc. today announced a $20,000 grant to support the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts' award-winning Keep Every Youth Safe (KEYS) program, which educates young drivers about the high risks and potentially devastating consequences of irresponsible behavior, and supports them in making smart and safe choices behind the wheel.

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The grant will enable the Brain Injury Association to train additional presenters, develop course materials and buy equipment, with the goal of presenting the KEYS program to approximately 5100 students in Worcester County this year, up 15% from a year ago.

About KEYS

The KEYS program is recommended by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a standard part of the curriculum for all driving schools. It is aimed at reducing the number of accidents, fatalities, and incidents of traumatic brain injury.

One of the biggest challenges in adolescent health education, including driver's education, is addressing a young person's feeling of invincibility -- the common notion among teenagers that "it won't happen to me." In fact, statistics tell a far different and very serious story.

Teenage drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group per mile traveled. One out of every five licensed 16-year-old drivers will be involved in a vehicle crash, and automobile crashes kill more teens each year than any other cause. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, http://www.iihs.org/)

The most common causes of crashes among this more young and inexperienced group of drivers include speeding, multiple distractions -- including cell phones, CD players, and friends in the car, resistance to wearing seat belts, and impairment due to drugs or alcohol.

The KEYS program features a dramatic multi-media presentation and facilitator-led discussion on risky driving behaviors and the far-reaching and irreversible consequences -- physical, psychological, emotional and financial -- of traumatic brain injury. Program videos include powerful segments where survivors discuss their personal experiences, including how their crashes happened and the long-term impact these tragedies have had on their families and friends.

"The KEYS program is a real eye-opener," said Tim Cooney, executive director of the Central Massachusetts chapter of the National Safety Council, which has honored the KEYS program for its effectiveness. "It absolutely is having an impact on the young drivers who go through the program, helping to improve their decision making and bringing to life the consequences of irresponsible behavior. The Hanover Foundation is to be commended for helping to make the KEYS program more widely available."

Improving the safety of our roads

"The Hanover Foundation is pleased to help deliver this important and effective program to more young drivers throughout the region," said Linda McGowan, president of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation. "We are deeply committed to help reduce the number and severity of automobile accidents -- especially those involving young drivers -- and, in this way, help to improve the safety of our roads and highways for everyone."

"We are very grateful to The Hanover Foundation for its partnership and for stepping up to help make the KEYS program available to more young drivers throughout the region," said Michelle Weinstein, director of prevention programs at the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts. "We read too often about teens being tragically killed or disabled in car crashes. With this grant, The Hanover demonstrates its commitment to communities and families throughout the Worcester region."

About The Brain Injury Association (http://www.biama.org/)

The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) provides support, information and resources to individuals and families who are dealing with brain injury. The organization develops and presents programs in prevention awareness, hosts educational conferences, and advocates for legislation and improved services. BIA-MA was founded by families of survivors who were frustrated by a lack of understanding of the devastation caused by brain injury and the corresponding crisis in care. The association was incorporated in 1982 as a 501(c) 3, non-profit organization in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a chartered affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America. For more information call the association's Brain Injury Help Line. (800) 242-0030.

About The Hanover

The mission of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc. is to improve the quality of life in communities where our companies have a major presence, placing a special emphasis on helping to build world class public education systems and inspiring and empowering youth to achieve their full potential.

The Foundation is affiliated with The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. , based in Worcester, Mass., which is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance Company, also based in Worcester; Citizens Insurance Company of America, headquartered in Howell, Mich., and their affiliates. The Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to individuals, families and businesses through an extensive network of independent agents, and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners and their customers for more than 150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover ranks among the top 40 property and casualty insurers in the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.hanover.com/.

CONTACTS: Media Relations Amy Lynn Banek abanek@hanover.com (508) 855-4486 BIA-MA Media Relations BIA-MA Prevention Programs Pamela Bush Michelle Weinstein pbush@biama.org mweinstein@biama.org 508-475-0032