South H.S. students pledge to drive safely

A South High School graduate returned to the school on Sept. 10 to give back, using his company’s initiative to raise awareness about risky driving behaviors that contribute to fatal crashes involving teen drivers.

Ryan Gleason, 24, an Allstate insurance agent, and Uniondale agency owner Matt Talt presented the school with a check for $1,000 from the Allstate Foundation #GetThereSafe program.

Students who intended on getting a parking pass from the school were required to attend the event, which included the signing of a flag that was raised outside the school as a pledge to avoid risky behaviors like speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and being distracted by other teen passengers. The foundation cites those behaviors as the primary causes of teen crash fatalities, which represent the leading cause of death among American teens, with an average of nearly seven dying in crashes each day, according to the foundation.

Talt urged the students to be mindful of risky habits and to avoid them. Principal Maureen Henry said that the money would be used to purchase banners that would remind students about safe driving habits, to be hung around the school.

Gleason said that his agency was granted the money to give because Talt is a “very active agent,” and Gleason wanted to give it to South because of the individualized care he got from the faculty there when he attended. He graduated in 2008.

He said he enjoyed the process, his first experience initiating community service. “I had a good time getting everything coordinated,” he said. “I’m glad we could help.”