Teaming up with a national tire company, professional race-car drivers and cars can't be all bad. I certainly would have jumped at the opportunity during my teen years. Anything that had to do with cars was where I wanted to be.
As part of its nationwide 2003 Drive & Learn program, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC will be an official sponsor of Driver's Edge, a non-profit youth driver-education program. In an effort to lower the number of traffic accidents involving youths, the world's largest tire and rubber company kicked off this year's program in Phoenix Feb. 8, to be followed by a stint in 10 other cities.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15-to-20 year-olds. In 2001, more than 8,000 drivers in this age group were involved in fatal crashes. Although this age group accounts for only nine percent of the U.S. population, they were involved in 15 percent of fatal crashes in 2000. Much of the cause is attributed to poor driver education.
Many states have eliminated behind-the-wheel instruction in public schools, notes Jeff Payne, professional race-car driver and instructor who founded the organization in 1999, offering the first Driver's Edge program in Las Vegas in 2002. Soliciting support from local students, parents, teachers and public officials, Payne wanted to expand the program nationwide. It was then that he approached Bridgestone/Firestone for support because the company has shown a strong interest in driver safety through Drive & Learn programs.
For those students who are enrolled in driver's education programs, learning to drive has not been the goal. Rather, they are learning how to pass a test, says Payne. 'Rather than pointing fingers after a teenager dies in an accident,' Payne continued, 'we should be teaching them how to driver better in the first place.'
'Driver's Edge is the only program in the country of its kind,' says Payne. 'Comparable programs,' he says, 'would cost about $450 per person, but we're able to offer Driver's Edge at no cost to students, thanks to the support of companies like Bridgestone/Firestone.'
Payne spent five years researching and planning the curriculum. The program involving classroom and course instruction teaches students skills in evasive lane changes, anti-lock and panic braking maneuvers, and skid control. In the classroom, students learn about driving after a tire blowout or in icy conditions. On the course, students are taught vehicle dynamics, load transfer and driving in the rain. They are also able to identify and experience the differences in front-and-rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
Students start out the program taking a test designed to measure their driving knowledge. At the end of the program, they are given a similar test to measure how much they learned. On the average, students answer 33 percent of the questions correctly the first time and 80 percent correctly the second time.
Driver's Edge is offered in two sessions per day. About 75 students attend each program. Parents are encouraged to observe the sessions to offer support and reinforcement. For follow-up, Driver's Edge sends a questionaire to students six months after the course has been completed. Students are asked whether or not they have received any tickets or had any accidents since taking the class. The questionaire is sent again after 12, 24 and 36 months.
Other co-sponsors for the 2003 programs include AAA and Sprint. In addition, a courageous teen, and survivor of a horrible traffic accident, Ashley Biersach, will be speaking at events where teens are given free driving lessons in more than 11 cities. She will share her story and impress upon teens to drive safely and responsibly. 'It's so important that teenagers learn how to drive safely,' said Ashley. 'It's truly a matter of life and death.' Students may register to attend one of the 11 events by calling 1-877-633-EDGE (3343), or online at www.driversedge.org and the Web site www.bridgestonetire.com . Those interested can also brush up on tire safety and maintenance at the same site.
In 2002, Driver's Edge reached 1,200 young drivers in Las Vegas. Payne expects the program to reach 6,000 students nationwide in 2003. Digital images of the program can be viewed by logging onto www.driversedge.org and the Web site www.bridgestonetire.com .
A tentative schedule for Drive & Learn events for 2003 is as follows:
— Nashville, May 10,11
— New York, May 17
— Washington/Baltimore, MD, June 14
— Detroit, July 18
— Minneapolis, July 24
— Oklahoma City, Aug. 16
— San Francisco, Sept. 13
— Salt Lake City, Oct. 4
Copyright 2003. Susan Frissell. Women With Wheels. All Rights Reserved.