The phenomenon of teen car crashes is a behavioral disease; it is contagious and is the leading cause of death for teenagers. According to the most recent statistics available from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, in one year, approximately 8,500 people in the United States were killed by a teenage driver, and nearly 10,000 teens die themselves in car crashes each year. Hundreds of thousands more are injured or crippled.

For insurance companies, teens represent the highest claims experience of any age group, and the cost to settle these claims are in the billions of dollars each year. Because of these alarming statistics, ADEPT Driver developed teenSMART, a crash-avoidance program that addresses the issue of teen car crashes as a behavioral disease. Unlike the usual teen driver safety programs that target the rules of the road and have proven to be ineffective, teenSMART uses scientifically backed research to clinically address teen weaknesses in visual cognition and memory, hazard detection, risk perception, speed adjustment, space management, and lifestyle issues.

Using the medical model approach, we conducted studies to determine the cause of teen car crashes. Next, we developed treatments empirically related to the causes. Then we determined and tested the most efficient methods to impact behavior modification. Lastly, we conducted matched control group studies to measure crash reduction. Large sample size studies show a 25 percent reduction in collision frequency one year after treatment.

It took five years of research and more than $6 million to develop the teenSMART treatment. It uses a combination of computer based training, driving simulation, at-home and behind-the-wheel training to modify behind the wheel driving behavior. There is a certification test at the end that qualifies teens for insurance discounts. It also engages parents in an effective way to provide supervised driving practice required in many states that have passed graduated licensing laws. The teenSMART treatment program takes 8-10 hours to complete and there are additional in-car exercises that can total over 50 hours.

Insurance companies and agents support teenSMART because it has been proven to reduce the number of teen crashes, injuries and insurance claims. Two major insurance companies have received Department of Insurance approval for teenSMART discounts in 23 states. The most recent state to add teenSMART is New York, which was accepted for a discount by the Department of Insurance in January of 2006.

Insurance companies and agents benefit from offering the program by having higher customer retention and being able to attract new customers. Oftentimes when a policy-holder adds a teen to an insurance policy, the customer will begin to shop around for a new insurance company that might offer a better rate for the new teen driver. If customers can find an insurance company that offers a program proven to reduce teen crashes and is bundled with a discount when the teen completes the program, they are more likely to choose that company for their insurance needs.

The teenSMART program by ADEPT Driver not only saves lives and reduces the number of claims, but it is cost effective and increases premium growth. Most importantly, it gives policyholders an effective tool they can use to protect their teens from injury.

Dr. Harkness is a psychologist and chief executive officer of ADEPT Driver. He pioneered the medical model approach to treating teen auto crashes as a behavioral disease. Harkness worked with experts to conduct the initial epidemiology studies that determined the cause of teen crashes, as well as to determine effective treatment methods.