State Farm awarded a $25,000 grant to the Minnesota Highway Safety and Research Center at St. Cloud State University to help reduce teen driving crashes and deaths.

St. Cloud State will use the grant funding to host a Teen Driving Skills for Life event this Saturday. The class focuses on providing skills to help reduce distracted driving, collision avoidance, seat belt use and off road recovery.

Minnesota teen drivers make up about 6% of the driving population and are involved in nearly 12% of total crashes.

A small fee and valid permit or license is required to participate in the event. The next open course will be held on October 24. For more information on the event go to SCSU’s Center For Continuing Studies website.