Free
Youth Driver Education Program Offered Nationwide
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| Students
take part in a Driver's Edge program. |
According
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle
crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds
– a fact Driver's Edge™ and Bridgestone/Firestone are
determined to change.
The
tire company partnered with Driver’s Edge™, a non-profit
youth driver-education program, in an effort to lower the number
of traffic accidents involving youths through hands-on driver
education.
“Experience
has shown that young drivers who receive the type of training
provided by Driver’s Edge are better prepared to safely respond
to all sorts of driving conditions,” said Mark A. Emkes,
Chairman, CEO and President of Bridgestone/Firestone North American
Tire, LLC. “For this reason, driver education of this group
is extremely important. We are proud to be a part of this outstanding
program and this excellent opportunity to make a difference in
youth driving safety.”
As
part of its nationwide 2003 Drive & Learn program, Bridgestone/Firestone
will be an official sponsor of Driver’s Edge. The 2003 program
kicked off Feb. 8 in Phoenix and will be available in 10 other
cities this year.
“Driver’s
Edge had phenomenal success and widespread support when it was
introduced in Las Vegas last year,” said Emkes. “We’re
confident that it will continue to succeed as the program expands
throughout the United States.”
Jeff
Payne, a professional race-car driver and instructor, founded
the non-profit organization in 1999 and offered the first Driver’s
Edge program in Las Vegas in 2002. After gaining the support of
local students, parents, teachers and public officials, Payne
wanted to expand the program to the rest of the country. Payne
approached Bridgestone/Firestone for support, since the company
has shown a strong interest in driver safety through its Drive
& Learn programs and tiresafety.com,
a Web site devoted to teaching consumers about tire safety and
maintenance.
“Driver’s
Edge is the only program in the country of its kind,” said
Payne. “Comparable programs would cost about $450 per person,
but we’re able to offer Driver’s Edge at no cost to
the students, thanks to the support of companies like Bridgestone/Firestone.
Many states have done away with behind-the-wheel driving instruction
in public schools, so there’s a real need for this kind of
hands-on education.”
In
2001, more than 8,000 15- to 20-year-old drivers were involved
in fatal crashes. Although this age group makes up only nine percent
of the U.S. population, 15 percent of fatal crashes in 2000 involved
youths. Payne and others attribute these statistics to poor driver
education. (CONTINUE...)
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