One reason your local VT Toyota dealer in St. Albans here at Handy Toyota has remained committed to Toyota since the early days of the brand's life in Vermont is because of the sterling safety record the company and its product puts forth each year.  However while few young people in today's world, especially early teen drivers, are given credit towards driver's safety, Toyota aims to change that by tasking America's youth, their Driver's Education teachers, and even these young drivers' parents with demonstrating safe driving plans for the entire country to enjoy.

This spawned Toyota's Teen Driver Program, and late last week Toyota and Discovery Education announced the winners of this year's Safe Drivers' Challenge, awarding $40,000 to promote the importance of safety in teen driving across the country.

The two contests, one for teens and one for Drivers' Education teachers, help to bring important tips and needed education to young drivers on the dangers and seriousness of getting behind the wheel. Between distracted driving and driving under the influence, traffic crashes represent the greatest cause of death for teen's in America.

Pat Pineda, Gropu Vice President of the National Philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation explains the importance of the program:

"At Toyota, we are deeply committed to ensuring that drivers are safe at every phase of life.  Toyota Teen Driver is an important part of that commitment, and we are thrilled with the work of the students and teachers who participated in our Teen Challenge and Educators' Challenge programs.  Their creativity and smart thinking in addressing solutions for such a serious public health concern are an inspiration that we are pleased to join Discovery Education in supporting."

This year's Grand Prize winner, Jacob Orlowski from Park Hill South High School in Riverside, collected $20,000 in cash and prizes while the remaining nine finalists were rewarded with $1,500 each.  Erin Hattabaugh from Cleveland High School in Cleveland, TN, was the top teacher, receiving a $5,000 to help implement her winning "action plan," while the runner-up getting a grant worth $1,500.For more information on Toyota Teen Driver, visit www.toyotateendriver.com or email Handy Toyota to request more information on this exciting program.

Dustin Degree
Handy Toyota
St. Albans, VT  05478