| Teens all across the country are learning to be safer | | | | For drivers unable to participate in a Driver's Edge |
| drivers, thanks to Driver's Edge, a nonprofit | | | | program, the professionals offer the following safety |
| organization developed by professional driver Jeff | | | | tips: |
| Payne to address the number of youth-related | | | | * Remain alert and be aware of what's going on |
| automobile collisions and fatalities. | | | | around you. An April 2006 report by the National |
| The Driver's Edge staff of professional race car | | | | Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that |
| drivers and driving instructors will train teens in 15 U.S. | | | | nearly 80 percent of all crashes are caused by some |
| cities as part of its annual National Tour. | | | | form of driver inattention three seconds before the |
| Participating students in each session experience: | | | | event. |
| * Classroom and behind-the-wheel defensive driving | | | | * During a skid, if you feel that you have any chance |
| instruction on skid control, evasive lane-change | | | | of regaining control, your feet should do nothing. Stay |
| maneuvers, and anti-lock and panic-braking techniques. | | | | off the gas and the brake; correct everything with |
| * Local law enforcement sessions to demonstrate | | | | the steering wheel. Once you recover, use the |
| impaired driving awareness and seat belt safety. | | | | appropriate pedal. |
| * Proper car maintenance based on Firestone | | | | * If you find yourself spinning out of control, |
| Complete Auto Care's award-winning Car Care | | | | remember "in a spin, both feet in." That means when |
| Academies. | | | | you realize you can't regain control, push as hard as |
| * Written tests designed to measure students' driving | | | | possible on the brake and put the clutch in if you |
| knowledge before and after completing the Driver's | | | | have a manual transmission. |
| Edge program. | | | | |