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