PERU — Distracted driving kills more than 7,000 teens per year, and Miss Illinois, Hannah Smith, is using her fame and title to educate them about the dangers.
“Every time you get behind the wheel of a car. I’m not with you. You’re parents aren’t with you,” Smith said. “It’s your decision.”
Smith visited St. Bede Academy and LaSalle-Peru Township High School on Thursday as part of a “Distracted Driving ... FOCUS,” in partnership with State Farm Insurance.
"Throughout his reign, Miss Illinois will visit the state, working with State Farm, speaking to high school students about the importance of safe driving," Saint Bede principal Michelle Mershon said.
Smith said that when it comes to driver distraction, they are still considered collisions and accidents not because they are 100 percent preventable. Distracted driving is the No. 1 cause of death among adolescents and is a factor in 80 percent of collisions. It represents injuies 500 000 per year.
"I was very shocked to see that," Smith said.
Smith grew up in Huntley and knows the impact distracted driving can have on teens and the community. She’s experienced the hazards of distracted driving and the impact a death has on family, friends and the community.
Smith went over the causes of distracted driving, such as conversations in the car, loud music, disruptive younger siblings, texting, using cell phones, turning your head to talk to another passenger, applying makeup or shaving while driving, eating, holding hands and driving while tired. Texting while driving is illegal in the state of Illinois. Smith said texting takes your eyes off the road for three to six seconds, and anything can happen in that amount of time.
“You wouldn’t drive with your eyes shut,” Smith said. “When you are texting, that’s three to six seconds your eyes aren’t on the road.
FOCUS,” in partnership with State Farm Insurance. “Throughout her reign, Miss Illinois will travel the state, working collaboratively with State Farm, speaking to high school students on the importance of safe driving,” St. Bede Principal Michelle

(Source: MORE TH>N BUSINESS October 2009) when you buy online as well as other great offers when you buy a business insurance product. With our home insurance policy, when you buy buildings insurance, we'll give you contents insurance up to £75000
A unit of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., the largest US home insurer, withdrew from its NFIP partnership in June 2010, citing the program's instability. Allstate, the second-largest provider of home coverage, and Travelers still
First Chicago Insurance Company (FCIC) recently introduced a new Point of Sale Commercial Auto Policy in the State of Illinois. This enhancement now allows producers to provide clients with instant quotes, deliver policies at the point of sale, and,
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Sep 29, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- On November 1, 2011, OSF HealthCare will join PersonalCare Insurance of Illinois, Inc.'s ("PersonalCare") provider network to serve state of Illinois employees in central Illinois who choose the Open
Every month, 1000s of cars become government property through seized and foreclosure laws. Since there are so many cars in these government auctions, and the enormous costs for storage, these cars must be sold fast and cheap! By completing a simple search right here you can take advantage of these great cars of all kinds. Car-Auction has a database full of thousands of different repo cars just waiting for you to bid on! You cannot find a better way to purchase a car than through online repo auctions. Buying a car can be a difficult decision and a stressful process. Make buying your new car fun by purchasing through government & surplus auctions! Begin your cheap car search by filling in the form above! Click Here!
There are plenty of different ways that one can go about lowering their Illinois homeowners insurance rates. However, before one can find the best Illinois home insurance rates it is important to understand some of the various factors that influence IL home insurance rates.
There are approximately 12 million people residing in the state of Illinois (according to figures from the United States Census Bureau) and of those people, most homeowners require home insurance. But with so many people how does Illinois rank among the states of this country when it comes to homeowner insurance? In this article you will be able to see the many rates and figures of homeowners insurance in the state of Illinois and all over the United States.
Average Illinois Homeowner Insurance Rates
It is important to understand that Illinois is not one of those states that suffers a lot due to natural disasters and stuff of that magnitude and for this reason the homeowner insurance rates might not be that high. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Illinois ranked 31 out of the 50 states in the United States when it comes to homeowners insurance rates with an average rate of $660 in the year 2005. However, the rates have gone consistently up in every single state of the nation due to the inflation of the dollar through the years.