If you have teenage drivers, you need to check out Drivers Edge
http://www.driversedge.com/ This non
-profit organization, founded by Jeff Payne, offers a free (yes FREE) program,
for young drivers age 15-21 that possess a learners permit or drivers license.
It includes classroom and behind the wheel experience, taught by professional
drivers.
Jeff and his team teaches skid control, evasive lane changes, defensive driving techniques,
routine car maintenance and much more. They do accept donations.
The purpose of the program is to save teens lives by teaching them the
necessary driving skills. Parents are also encouraged to attend these classes
and I strongly suggest that you do so.
Here is the press release from this
year.
Drivers Edge does a follow up 12 months and then 24 months after your child
has taken the course, to see if the program is making a difference. So far,
statistics are looking positive.
There are tour dates throughout the country beginning in the spring, so the
last training course for this year is in Las Vegas, was this past weekend.
Keep
checking the website for next
years schedule and then sign up. The classes fill fast!
My older son went through this program and now my younger son will be ready
for it by spring. I suggest that your child have some driving experience before
taking this course because it is a lot of behind the wheel training. If they
are not comfortable driving yet, they will not fully benefit from the training.
My son, like all of the teens who take the course, loved it! Where else can a
new driver get trained by professional drivers, in a fun environment and get to
put a car in a skid without their parent screaming at them? My older son wants
to repeat the course when his brother takes it next spring.
If
Drivers Edge comes to
your area, I highly recommend it! It is a great program.
I think teenagerss can really benefit from classes and the info. Great info for the public...they will be appreciative!
What a great class! This would really give kids more confidence behind the wheel. Thanks for the info!
Roberta - Excellent in formation. This is the kind of post that can save lives. Thanks.
I couldn't open the tour schedule on their website. However, here is another similar program to check out
www.teendrivers.com
It s a for profit company but the cost is quite reasonable. I went a year ago with out first teen driver and will be attending again in a month or so with our next driver. All kids need car control training that goes way beyond what they might get in drivers ed.
Sally: Teenage drivers need all the help that they can get and this is a great program.
Linda: It gave me a little more confidence having my son behind the wheel too.
Tom: It has proven results that it works.
Bob: Thanks for the other program information. You probably couldn't open the tour dates because they are done for the year so I guess they don't have next years schedule up yet.
Great post, Roberta, every teenager, and, in fact, all of us would benefit from the program.
This sounds really great. I have one driver and one soon-to-be-driver. We will be checking this out. My son (the driver) would love to be allowed to go into a skid!
Robert: You are right, we could all learn something and I did learn a lot just attending the program with my son.
Elaine:Next years schedule is not updated yet so make sure you keep the website bookmarked and check back often. You son (the driver) will love it!
Sorry, Roberta, I wasn't logged in. That's my comment above!
Mary Ann, It is a great program. Thanks for visiting.
This sounds great since my 2 oldest grandchildren are 15. Thank you for posting.
Roberta, This is excellent info and REALLY needed. Every time I drive down the freeway I see souped up cars with yougner people behind the wheel flying in and out of traffic.
Cindy:Keep checking the website for next year's schedule. It would be great for your grandchildren.
Rey: I know what you mean about the crazy young drivers! Of course, I think it might be a good course for some older drivers who drive like idiots! It is scary on those freeways!
Awesome information! Where was this when my kids we're just starting to drive? What a great and worrysome time. great cause they always wanted to run up to the store for that gallon of milk, etc just to drive. Bad because when they were a little late we always worried!
Jay: My youngest son is doing Driver's Edge this weekend. It is a great program!
UPDATE: Driver's Edge has updated it's website with new tour dates. Anyone with teenage drivers, under the age of 21 can do this for free!!! Check the website and see if they will be in your area.
Daughter just went to this course today in Dallas. She was so nervous about the driving part. Now she is really glad she went and happy that she learned so much. She says she would do it again! Said it didn't even seem like they were there that long, it was so good.
I wanted my son to attend a few years back, but we never got the chance. With such poor teen driver stats, I feel this or similar type training could really make a difference.
I recommend everyone with a teenn driver take a good, serious look at this course. Courses are held in several US locations.
Wendy: Glad to hear your daughter went through the course and learned a lot. My youngest son just took it last week and really loved it! My older son wanted to do it with him but had to work that day. It is a great program run by a great group of people who really are trying to make a difference in teen drivers. I think that everyone who gets the chance, should attend this course, especially since there is no charge!