“Current State Farm driving data and claims experience show a considerable decline in miles driven and fewer accidents,” said Glenda Beach, Vice President – Agency/Sales. “As a result, we’re looking for ways to continue supporting our Maryland customers while we monitor and adjust to trends.”

In addition to the auto rate reduction, the discount for participating in Drive Safe & Save™ is increasing to 10%, and empowers drivers to save more on their auto premiums through driving behaviors.

Customer rate reductions will vary based on their individual renewals. Customers are encouraged to visit with their State Farm agent about individual policies, coverage and any opportunities for discounts, including Drive Safe & Save.

The effective date for new and renewal business is March 25. The last rate change in Maryland was a decrease of 3 percent in July 2018. Combined, the two auto rate decreases will save Maryland customers $41.8 million.

“State Farm is very pleased to be able to offer another auto rate decrease in State,” said State Farm Senior Vice President Chris Schell. “Improving expenses and losses were important factors, among many, that supported our decision to make this rate change."

Overall changes in premiums for individual motorists will vary. Rates depend on a customer’s policy and chosen coverage. Customers can contact their local State Farm agent to discuss their individual situation. Additional opportunities for discounts may apply.

A rate decrease combined with discounts offers exceptional long-term value to State Farm customers.

State Farm sponsored assist patrols in 18 states help keep the nation’s highest-trafficked roadways safe and clear. They reduce congestion, help stranded motorists, and provide traffic control and safety at incident scenes.

Safety patrols are operated by state departments of transportation and toll road authorities. They are known by a variety of names in 40 states. Their free services include changing flat tires, providing a jump-start or small amount of gasoline, and minor safety repairs.

“The safety patrols embody our ‘good neighbor’ philosophy and underscore our commitment to auto safety,” said Ed Gold, advertising director. “They help people recover from the unexpected, which is the heart of the State Farm mission.”

State Farm sponsorship helps increase coverage areas and raises awareness about the patrols. This helps the motoring public feel more secure when traveling the nation’s interstate system. Sponsored highway signs mark coverage areas. The bright red State Farm reflective markings also improve patrol vehicle visibility.

State Farm sponsors the safety patrols in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

State Farm has been committed to roadway safety since its founding in 1922. The company seeks to increase the safety of all drivers and passengers from infancy to the driver’s seat.

*Safety Service Patrol Priorities and Best Practices: USDOT Federal Highway Federal Highway Administration, April 2017

“The company’s current financial strength is allowing us to pass along a rate reduction to our Maryland customers," said State Farm Senior Vice President Chris Schell. “We continually evaluate how we can best serve our customers and are very pleased to be able to offer this rate decrease in Maryland”

Overall changes in premiums for individual motorists will vary depending on the specific details of an individual customer’s policy and chosen coverages. The effective date for new and renewal business is July 23, 2018. Maryland customers with questions can contact their local State Farm agent to discuss their individual situation.

In addition to this rate reduction, State Farm agents are able to review with new and existing customers the many opportunities for additional discounts that may apply to an individual’s unique circumstances. A rate decrease combined with discounts offers an exceptional long-term value to State Farm customers.

Insurance provided by TNCs may be limited in scope and coverage. Personal auto policies generally do not extend coverage to the use of personal cars as taxis or livery vehicles, including their use in TNC services.

To adapt to changing customer needs, beginning June 26, 2017, State Farm will offer a Transportation Network Company Driver Coverage endorsement in five additional states, Arkansas, Maryland, Nevada, Vermont and Wyoming.

The endorsement will be available starting June 26, 2017.

Earlier this year Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington, D.C. received the coverage endorsement, and twenty-three jurisdictions obtained the endorsement in 2016: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

"Adapting and innovating to our customers' changing needs is critical," said Vicki Harper, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist. "This new product is an example of our commitment to our customers and provides them coverage, and peace of mind, when they use their personal cars to provide TNC services."

TNCs may provide high liability coverage limits while a paying passenger occupies the driver's vehicle or when the driver has been connected with a passenger and is on the way to pick that person up. But TNCs tend to provide a much lower limit of liability coverage when drivers are just available for hire and may not provide the drivers with any medical payments, comprehensive, or collision coverages at all. The TNCs may not be providing coverage for injuries to the driver or coverage for any damage to the driver's personal car.

This new, optional State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement is cost-effective and provides an opportunity for our customers to obtain coverage that will fill the gaps between their base auto policy and the coverage provided by a TNC.

Customers in these states who drive for a TNC should contact their local State Farm agent to learn more about the new State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement.

(Individual State Graphics Available for Download Below)

Bloomington, Illinois (October 21, 2016) – State Farm is introducing a new coverage endorsement in several states to help fill insurance gaps for its policyholders who use their personal cars to provide rides for a Transportation Network Company (TNC), like Uber and Lyft. The TNC industry is rapidly changing the livery/taxi industry by using the latest mobile technology to facilitate rides for hire. With these new transportation services in the marketplace, drivers are exposed to new risks.

Insurance provided by TNCs may be limited in scope and coverage. Personal auto policies generally do not extend coverage to the use of personal cars as taxis or livery vehicles, including their use in TNC services.

To adapt to changing customer needs, beginning Monday, October 21, 2016, State Farm will offer a Transportation Network Company Driver Coverage endorsement in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia.

The effective date for new and renewal for all states except GA: October 21, 2016. The effective date for new and renewal for GA: November 21, 2016

Ten jurisdictions obtained the endorsement earlier this year: Alabama, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wisconsin .

"Adapting and innovating to our customers' changing needs is critical," said Vicki Harper, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist. "This new product is an example of our commitment to our customers and provides them coverage, and peace of mind, when they use their personal cars to provide TNC services."

TNCs may provide high liability coverage limits while a paying passenger occupies the driver's vehicle or when the driver has been connected with a passenger and is on the way to pick that person up. But TNCs tend to provide a much lower limit of liability coverage when drivers are just available for hire and may not provide the drivers with any medical payments, comprehensive, or collision coverages at all. The TNCs may not be providing coverage for injuries to the driver or coverage for any damage to the driver's personal car.

The new, optional State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement enables a policyholder to have his/her personal auto policy fill in the coverage gaps left by TNC-provided insurance. This cost-effective endorsement provides the driver with the full liability coverage limits carried on his/her auto policy during the period of time when the driver is available for hire, and provides the driver with all other coverages applicable to his/her auto policy during all periods of TNC driving.

Customers in these states who drive for a TNC should contact their local State Farm agent to learn more about the new State Farm TNC Driver Coverage endorsement.

Across the country, schools are teaching students, not just with a text book, but by getting their hands dirty. Literally. And, with the help of State Farm, they are helping their communities and the environment in the process.

Crellin Elementary teaches students how to keep the body and the planet healthy

Your chicken door needs to be closed each day at a certain time? What do you do? If you are a fifth grader at Crellin Elementary in Maryland, you build an automatic chicken door that runs on solar power.

From working in the greenhouse, cleaning the wool from a sheered sheep, to taking a walk to learn about the hemlocks, Crellin Elementary Students (K-5) are learning in unique ways.

The kids, along with their parents and teachers, learn about healthy, sustainable lifestyles and how to protect the environment. They feed the animals, plant vegetables and compost leftovers from school lunches. And the students don’t mind doing their chores…at school.At the school, they also have a lab the students use to study and collect data.

After spending time in the barn, first graders were curious about which roosting box the hens preferred when laying eggs. For two months, regardless of the weather, these little scientists went to the barn to collect data. Using the results, the second graders prepare the “Sunshine Farm” eggs to sell.

“Using the environment to teach content skills and processes is part of the approach to teaching and learning,” said Principal Dana McCauley. ”(They) strive to be self-sustaining at Crellin by tying agriculture into the curriculum.”

Virginia Chance School “Green Team” creates organic garden and compost system

The Virginia Chance School in Louisville, Kentucky has an eight-member “Green Team”. The chosen fourth and fifth graders annually lead the environmental and energy conservation charge at the independent school for children age two through fifth grade.

The Green Team’s first big undertaking in 2012 was overseeing the building of a 60-foot greenhouse to create an organic garden and compost system.

“The building of the greenhouse really changed our school and our learning environment for the better,” says Ms. Cummins, the lead teacher.

Subsequent Green Teams have introduced an Aquaponics system into the greenhouse, planted a rain garden, and built rain barrels. Next on the horizon is building a chicken coop.

The produce the students grow is used as fresh snacks for the student body, student-run farmers market, cooking classes, monthly taco dinners. Leftovers are donated to a local food bank.

In May of 2015, the National Energy Education Development Project named the Chance School the top elementary school in the country. “I think what made their project stand out is the ability to tie in growing their own food and conserving water into energy conservation,” said Ms. Cummins.

The school was honored by a visit from First Lady Jane Beshear of Kentucky in recognition of all of the great things the Green Team is accomplishing.

Tucker County High School grows 50,000 bedding plants

High school students can get into the action too. At Tucker County HS in Hambleton, West Virginia, students are learning valuable life skills.

Through the Farm to School program, the students sell their produce directly to the high school or other schools. The school’s cafeteria is now serving meals with produce grown in the greenhouse.

The culinary program, part of the career & technical education program, has also expanded with the addition of fresh produce from the greenhouse. Students learn how to can and preserve fresh produce for school meals.

Last year, 50,000 bedding plants were grown in the high school green house and sold to the community and surrounding counties.

With these programs in place, TCHS can make money from the greenhouse facilities and culinary programs to, ultimately, help support the students

Teens feel a mix of emotion when they first sit behind the wheel. Throughout the learning process, parents check in with teens, asking:

• How do you feel behind the wheel?

• How did you feel driving on the highway?

• Are you ready to try parallel parking?

What we often forget is to ask moms and dads how they are feeling about this parenting milestone.

“My middle daughter was a lead foot and wanted to jump in with both feet – on the accelerator. She literally scared me half-to-death!” said Maryland resident Andrea Sanford. Andrea’s youngest daughter, however, was the exact opposite. “She was extremely fearful, had very little confidence, and would even pull over and simply stop driving when overwhelmed.”

Teens look up to their parents when learning to drive. A 2012 State Farm^® Harris Survey found 69 percent of teens trust their parents the most when it comes to driving information. In contrast, less than half of parents were well prepared to teach driving. In the majority of cases, both parents and teens reported that at best, parents were only somewhat prepared to teach their teens to drive.

As the main driving resource for teens, parents need to be equipped with the right tools to do the job. Beyond just following the rules of the road and practicing safe driving behaviors, parents must also feel comfortable in the role of teacher.

“In retrospect, I wish there was someone who could have trained me to better prepare them (their teenage kids) for the responsibilities and dangers of driving,” said Andrea.

Eliminating Driver Error by Teaching the Teacher

To help parents during this important time in their teen’s lives, one Maryland non-profit is launching a course for parents. “We’ve taught teens how to drive for 12 years,” said Drive2Survive Founder, Eric Espinosa. “But there isn’t a similar course to help parents through this milestone.”

Drive2Survive aims to reduce automobile crashes and fatalities by reducing driver error through training, education, research and advocacy.

Through a grant, State Farm helps teens with the cost to participate in the Drive2Survive program. The relationship grew as Drive2Survive participated in Celebrate My Drive, a teen driver safety initiative sponsored by State Farm.

“This program looks to address lack of skill and experience, a major component in many teen crashes,” said State Farm Public Affairs Specialist Anna Bryant. “Programs such as this give teens additional information to help them become better and safer drivers.”

“Most accidents are not accidents,” says Eric. “They are crashes caused by driver error and distractions/or neglect in training.”

To reduce errors and distractions, young drivers must learn how to react in emergencies where “normal” driving skills aren’t enough.

Explaining the need for the program, Eric recalls, “After having three teens attend the class after almost getting into a serious crash with their family members in the car, a light bulb went off.”

To address this issue, Drive2Survive created a class especially for parents. The class will walk parents through a variety of steps, including how to teach teens proper form, the impact of weight and balance and its effect on traction and control, and other safe driving behaviors.

The final exam will consist of driving on a road course with a new teen-driver that is not their own. The test will allow parents to test their new skills under the watchful eyes of a staff instructor.

“But we can’t teach everything during our one-day class. It requires parents continue to follow up on the skills teens learn to reinforce potentially lifesaving behaviors, “ says Eric.

Keeping the Conversation Going

The class is a great platform to start the dialogue between teens and parents about the driving journey. After teens receive their license, there is a sharp decline in parent and teen interactions about driving despite the fact the first year after receiving a license brings the highest lifetime crash risk. Teens who have just a learner’s permit are two times more likely than teens with licenses to report they talk very often with their parents about driving.(46% to 22%).

One way parents can continue the conversation is through the State Farm Road Trips® tool. This “one-stop shop” provides parents with safe driving teaching techniques in manageable pieces. The web-based tool helps parents build practice drives and log their teen’s progress.

Whether parents take a class or utilize an online tool, it’s important parents teach teens the skills necessary to help them handle many of the situations they might face while driving.

“It was my job as her parent to protect her by ensuring she would gain the skills and experience necessary to help her survive,” said Andrea. “The information and experience she received gave her confidence and assured me that I’ve prepared her as much as possible.”