FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2006
Contact: Jonathan Adkins
(202)789-0942, jadkins@ghsa.org
3-Day Camp to Teach Teens "Driving Skills"
Program Highlights Need to Improve Driver Education and Graduated Licensing
WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than 600 teen drivers and their parents will be taught Driving Skills for Life at an innovative camp to be held August 1-3 at the Michigan Proving Grounds, located outside of Detroit.
Vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of teenagers in America. Nearly 6,000 teens die annually in such crashes—5,896 in 2004, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA.)
Andrew Sieloff, Ford Motor Company Fund, Jim Graham, Ford Motor Company Fund, Brian Palmer, State Representative (R-Romeo), 36th District, Michael Prince, Office of Highway Safety Planning
To combat these deaths, Ford Motor Company, GHSA and a panel of safety experts established the Driving Skills for Life program to help teens develop the necessary skills for safe driving beyond what they learn in standard driver education programs. According to Chris Murphy, GHSA's Vice Chairman, "Too often, we hear from parents that driver education courses simply teach to the driving test and do not provide the skills necessary to be a safe driver. Driving Skills for Life goes beyond these courses and teaches important driving skills in a high-tech way that appeals to teens."
Driving Skills for Life helps young drivers improve their skills in four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60 percent of teen vehicle crashes: Hazard Recognition, Vehicle Handling, Space Management and Speed Management.
The Driving Skills for Life program is a complement to the graduated licensing laws that have been enacted in most states. These laws phase-in driving privileges with parental supervision so that novice drivers gain experience driving while under controlled conditions. Earlier this month, a Johns Hopkins study reported that graduated driver licensing programs reduce, by an average of 11 percent, the incidence of fatal crashes of 16-year-old drivers.
Murphy says, "The parental component to our program is really important as it stresses that it is the parents who must enforce the licensing laws. Parents need to make sure their teens are not driving at night or with other teens in the car. These restrictions have been proven to be extremely effective in reducing teen crashes."
Driving Skills for Life provides excellent learning tools, including an interactive website, www.drivingskillsforlife.com, an in-depth CD video and an educator kit. There is no charge for the materials, which not only can be used by young drivers, but also by educators and parents in school or community settings. Teens can test their knowledge and earn prizes by participating online. All printed materials also are available in Spanish.
New for 2006 are a 30-minute documentary on Driving Skills for Life, to be broadcast later this year on public television stations, including PBS, and enhanced curriculum on the website, notably the importance of eco-driving, personal safety and the environment.
Media are invited to attend the camp on any of the three days and also can participate in the event if they would like to experience the training. Media are also invited to attend a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. on opening day August 1, with various government officials and local leaders and educators available for comments. For media outside the Detroit area, photos will be uploaded to satellite following the event.
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The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)® is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org.