NJM Provides Driving Simulators to 55 New Jersey High Schools

June 7, 2013

WEST TRENTON, NJ — In celebration of its 100th anniversary and commitment to safety, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company (NJM), the largest insurer of private passenger vehicles in the state, will provide driving simulators to all 55 New Jersey high schools that participated in the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey's Champion Schools Program, which took place this morning. This represents an investment by NJM of more than $700,000 toward driver safety statewide.

NJM President and CEO Bernie Flynn made the announcement this morning at the Brain Injury Alliance's third annual "U Got Brains" event held at iPlay America in Freehold Township. In addition to getting simulators, the two grand-prize winning schools, Lenape Regional High School District, Medford, and Columbia High School, Maplewood, will receive $10,000 in cash grants from NJM to put toward post-prom events and a distracted-driving presentation by Jacy Good, a powerful speaker who survived an accident caused by a driver using a cell phone.

The full-cab model driving simulators provide hands-on experience with challenging driving conditions that students might not face while practicing behind the wheel.

A list of participating schools follows.

Enhancing the driver training programs at these schools helps advance NJM's 100-year commitment to safety, according to Flynn.

"NJM cares about the safety of all New Jersey drivers, especially the youngest, who have so much living ahead of them," Flynn said. "This is a substantial investment in helping to ensure the safety of our loved ones and reaffirms our commitment to the well-being of the residents of our state. In contemplating the best way to say "thank you" to the people of New Jersey for giving us a home for 100 years, and to our policyholders who have entrusted us with their insurance needs, we could think of no better way than to provide resources that keep our young people, and all who travel our roadways, out of harm's way."

This is the third year in a row that NJM has donated driving simulators to the Champion Schools Program, but there were only two winners in the first two years. The decision to up the ante by donating simulators to all 55 participants in 2013 was made in honor of NJM's Centennial.

Founded in 1913, NJM is the largest provider of Personal Automobile and Workers' Compensation insurance in New Jersey and a major carrier for Homeowners and Commercial Auto coverage. For Commercial Lines insurance, a company must be a member of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association to apply, and Personal Lines applicants also must meet membership and qualifying criteria.

Champion Schools Program participants by county

Atlantic: Hammonton High School; Mainland Regional High School, Linwood; Oakcrest High School, Mays Landing; St. Joseph’s High School, Hammonton

Bergen: Bergen County Tech High School, Paramus; Bogota High School; Emerson Jr. Sr. High School

Burlington: Bordentown Regional High School; Delran High School, Mount Laurel; Lenape Regional High School District, Medford; Maple Shade High School

Camden: Collingswood High School; Haddonfield Memorial High School Overbrook High School, Sewell

Cape May: Middle Township High School, Cape May Courthouse

Cumberland: Cumberland Regional High School, Bridgeton; Memorial High School, Millville; Vineland High School

Essex: Arts High School, Newark; Barringer High School, Newark; Belleville High School; Bloomfield High School; Cedar Grove High School; Columbia High School, Maplewood Essex County Vo-Tech, Newark; Millburn High School; Montclair High School; Nutley High School; Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School, Livingston; West Orange High School

Gloucester: Woodbury High School

Hudson: Kearny High School

Mercer: Princeton High School; Trenton High School West; Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing

Middlesex: Colonia High School; Dunellen High School; Edison High School; Middlesex County Academy for Science, Math, and Engineering Technologies, Edison; St. Joseph's High School, Metuchen; Old Bridge High School

Monmouth: Communications High School, Wall; Freehold Regional High School District, Englishtown; Freehold Township High School; Howell High School; Manalapan High School; Marlboro High School; Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls

Morris: Kinnelon High School; Morris Rugby, Montville/Morris Knolls High School, Rockaway (entering as one team); Pequannock Township High School, Pompton Plains

Ocean: MATES (the Marine Academy of Ocean County Vo Tech), Manahawkin

Passaic: Passaic County Technical Institute, Wayne

Union: Hillside High School; Scotch Plains/Fanwood High School