| As a part of AAA Foundation's campaign to reduce | | | | up. AAA has training materials that can help teens |
| vehicle accidents involving teen drivers ages 15 to 20, | | | | master these skills and become safer drivers at " |
| David Ragan, one of the youngest drivers in | | | | "In racing, we rely on trained professionals to prepare |
| NASCAR is working in conjunction with AAA to | | | | and maintain our vehicles. Teens also need to have |
| educate teen drivers about the significance of safe | | | | their vehicles inspected and maintained by qualified |
| driving as well as car maintenance inspection. During | | | | technicians. Many young people start by driving older |
| the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series last February, | | | | cars and trucks with a lot of miles on them. They |
| David Ragan, aged 21 finished the race obtaining the | | | | need to have brakes, steering components and |
| 5th spot. | | | | suspensions checked. Tires, lights, fluid lines and other |
| David Ragan will travel in schools and other | | | | items that can wear out need attention too. That's |
| institutions across the United States to speak with | | | | something AAA's Approved Auto Repair program can |
| youngsters and discuss the safety measures and | | | | help them with. By driving for AAA and its 50 million |
| maintenance check tips for their vehicles. Ragan will | | | | members this year - and taking the opportunities |
| also share his safe driving techniques and | | | | they are providing to speak with teen drivers - I'm |
| demonstrate them. In fact, Ragan has already visited | | | | hoping I can shorten the learning curve and improve |
| some high schools in Daytona Beach and in Las | | | | the margin of safety for people not much younger |
| Vegas and performed some demo. | | | | than myself." he continued. |
| According to David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 AAA | | | | Meanwhile, according to a research conducted by the |
| Ford Fusion in the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series: | | | | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| "I know the challenges young drivers face. There are | | | | (NHTSA), there are mote than 300,000 teens aged |
| a lot of temptations and distractions that can cause | | | | 15 to 20 are injured in car crashes every year and |
| inexperienced drivers to loose focus. Managing the | | | | nearly 8,000 are involved in fatal crashes. NHTSA also |
| driving environment and anticipating what can happen | | | | said that more than 3,500 teens are killed in these |
| on the road is as important for teen drivers as it is | | | | car crashes each year. Moreover, NHTSA also said |
| for professional race car drivers. Part of the process | | | | that young drivers "are more likely to speed, run red |
| is being mentally prepared to drive, buckling up and | | | | lights, make illegal turns, and die in SUV rollover." Teen |
| thinking about the conditions under which you will be | | | | drivers should get the Jeep Patriot SUV with quality |
| driving. It also has to do with not allowing your | | | | Jeep thermostat and Side Occupant Protection |
| attention to wander from the road, anticipate turns, | | | | System to avoid injuries during rollover crashes. |
| change lanes or know when to slow down or speed | | | | |