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Throughout the U.S., standard driver education programs offered through high schools and commercial firms are virtually the only driver training courses available. Their curriculums cover the rules and regulations of the road and the basics of operating an automobile, and are an essential part of every beginning driver’s training. These driver education programs provide a total of only one to six hours of behind the wheel experience, however. Much more is needed to help teens develop skills and behaviors that will keep them alive on today’s dangerous roads. Parents are the keys to helping solve this problem, but many lack time or are uncomfortable in this role.
In the course of my research prior to writing Crashproof Your Kids, I found a handful of advanced driving schools around the country with programs aimed at teens. I thought that a new model for an advanced teen driving program could be created which incorporated the best aspects of these programs while offering several additional advantages.
The ideal program would focus on behind the wheel training, teaching key elements of defensive driving and accident avoidance techniques. It would include a written survey and evaluation of each teenager’s attitude to assess potential driving risks, and offer a distinctive and complementary program for parents. The class size should be small, to allow maximum attention for each student. The facilities should be first-class and the instructors highly experienced and committed.
In the spring of 2007 it all came together, and the result is the Teen Driving Academy at the Autobahn Country Club near Joliet, Illinois. My co-founders, Craig Cunningham and Tony Kester, are professional racers and driving instructors who have assembled a team of instructors with extensive experience and a commitment to making a difference with teen drivers. We’ve developed a parent program which includes some of the same behind the wheel experiences their teens will enjoy, as well as a step-by-step plan to help Crashproof teens after the program is finished. The Autobahn Country Club is a new, world-class driving facility which has partnered with us to make the Teen Driving Academy unique in the U.S.
For more information on the Teen Driving Academy, and the opportunity to provide you and your teen with advanced driving skills for the rest of your lives, call 1-630-825-TEEN (1-630-825-8336) or visit www.autobahnteendriving.com.
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