Think back to your driver’s education class (if you even had one) – how many times were you actually behind the wheel before your final test?
I remember taking my final test right after a freak snowstorm – scary!
Now think about how your own kids are going to learn to drive…will you teach them? Take them to a parking lot to drive around a bit? How do you teach them what to do in adverse conditions or if they are out of control?
This week is National Teen Driver Safety week. In an effort to help update the typical driver’s education class to make it more real-world and hands-on, Tire Rack Street SurvivalR national non-profit teen driver program opened 15 schools across the country to teach youth how to ‘arrive alive.’
In 2007 Congress established the third week of October as National Teen Driver Safety week to help raise awareness about this serious issue. Car accidents are the number one killer of kids ages 16 to 19.
Over 5,000 teens are killed in car crashes every year in the United States. In order to help lower this number, Tire Rack Street SurvivalR kicks off this week with 15 schools across the country during the month of October in the following markets: Orlando, FL; Denver, CO; Portland, OR; Kansas City, MO; Reno, NV; Dayton, OH; Des Moines, IA; Chicago, IL; Chattanooga, TN; Indianapolis, IN; Houston, TX; Eagle, CO; Silver Spring, MD; Memphis, TN; and St. Louis, MO.
The focus of the Tire Rack Street SurvivalR schools is to teach teens how to control their vehicles as opposed to simply operating it. Through hands-on experience in their own vehicles, students learn emergency braking and skid control under both wet and dry conditions, how to recover from oversteering and understeering and how to avoid accidents entirely.
“We’re working to make the roads safer for everyone,” said Bill Wade, Tire Rack Street SurvivalR National Program Manager. ”Although it’s a year-round problem, National Teen Driver Safety Week is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness and educate parents and teens to the importance of learning proper car control. Few teens realize driving is one of the most dangerous things they can do.”
Matt Edmonds, vice president of Tire Rack said, ”I urge parents to take an active role in educating their young drivers every day and spark a conversation before and after National Teen Driver Safety Week.”
Classes are taught by local member volunteers from regional chapters of the BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA), the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and other car clubs. One-day Tire Rack Street SurvivalR classes are typically held on weekends.
Permitted and licensed drivers between 16 and 21 can enroll and the cost is $75 per student. Some insurance companies offer discounts for graduates of the class so you’ll get the cost of the class back quickly.
Parents interested in requesting a Tire Rack Street Survival school for their community and for more information can visit www.streetsurvival.org or call 502.649.4871.