State Farm Grant Boosts Youth Transportation Safety Initiative

State Farm has awarded a grant to the Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) program, part of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), strengthening ongoing efforts to reduce crashes and improve safety outcomes among young drivers nationwide.

The YTS program develops peer-to-peer safety education for students ages 11 to 25. Its high school initiative, Teens in the Driver Seat® (TDS), has reached more than 2,600 schools since its launch and engages nearly one million young people each year.

Continued support from State Farm is making a measurable impact at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, a participating TDS school. Student leaders say the funding has strengthened peer-to-peer messaging, expanded outreach efforts and provided tools to support effective safety education. The program also continues to build a foundation for a safe driving culture while fostering meaningful connections among students.

“Since receiving funding from State Farm, YTS has been able to expand its reach and make its safety messaging more engaging and accessible for students,” said Itzayana S., a student leader at Young Women’s Leadership Academy and member of the YTS program.

She added that the support has increased participation in peer-led initiatives, enabled more interactive events and enhanced efforts to educate students on safe driving behaviors.

“This support has also influenced my role as a teen advisory board member by giving me the tools and confidence to step into a leadership position, advocate for responsible driving and help create a safer environment for my peers,” Itzayana said.

State Farm has partnered with YTS for 19 years through its TDS program, supporting community-based education by connecting agents with schools and student leaders. Through the partnership, agents work directly with youth to deliver outreach using proven safety resources.

Grant funding plays a critical role in sustaining these efforts by supporting youth leadership training, programming and engagement activities, in-person meetings, educational materials, and awards and incentives designed to maintain student participation. It also supports outreach to agents and provides resources to expand program delivery.

Program leaders say the continued partnership reflects shared priorities focused on prevention, education and community impact. Together, the organizations aim to reduce serious injuries and fatalities from motor vehicle crashes and help ensure young people can travel safely throughout their lives.

“This partnership with State Farm allows us to meet young drivers where they are and empower them to make safer choices behind the wheel,” said Lisa Minjares-Kyle, program manager of YTS. “By investing in peer-to-peer education, we’re not only raising awareness but helping create a lasting culture of safety that extends far beyond the classroom.”