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WUSA-TV Sponsors Teen Driver Training Program in Washington DC Area

Published: Thu, 02 Jun 2005, 10:15:00 EDT

Edited by Christopher Simmons

WASHINGTON, DC - June 2 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- WUSA TV, Channel 9 is sponsoring the nationally-acclaimed New Driver Car Control Clinic(R) in the Washington DC area beginning June 17. The Clinic is a hands-on, behind-the-wheel accident avoidance and defensive driving program for teens and their parents available in ten states.

"Cars kill more teenagers each year than the number of people who died on September 11," says WUSA's news anchor, Todd McDermott. "As a news organization, we're constantly reporting on these teenage tragedies, so we decided to become proactive and be a part of the solution to the problem, not simply give an account of each heartbreaking crash when it happens. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 85 percent of all crashes involving a 16-year-old driver are due to 'Driver Error.' Not speed; not alcohol. It is simply time to teach our young drivers what to do in an emergency," McDermott adds, "and that's why we're partnering with the New Driver Car Control Clinic."

"The New Driver Car Control Clinic is the missing link in driver education," says David Thompson, founder of the program. "It goes beyond the basics, involves the parents and concentrates on training teens how to respond when their car enters the 'emergency zone' - that critical three seconds when they have the opportunity to save crashing altogether, or minimize the effects if a crash is inevitable."

The Clinic's teachings are evident in scores of emails received from parents, such as one from Mrs. A. Burns of Atlanta; "[My daughter] Amanda was driving home after the Clinic when another car came into her lane. She handled it magnificently. After our near collision, she said 'If I had not been to that course, we would have just wrecked.' I was proud of her and [am] proud to say that what [the New Driver Car Control Clinic] teaches is life saving."

The program's efficacy is borne out by a recent analysis conducted by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. In the four-year study, the crash occurrence of New Driver Car Control Clinic graduates was tracked and compared to Florida drivers of the same age who had not received the training. The Department's findings were that, over the four years, New Driver Car Control Clinic graduates had 77% fewer crashes than their peers.

Clinic students and their parents (the New Driver Car Control Clinic does not accept a teen without a parent) perform a series of exercises learning how to use their eyes, hands and feet to steer away from obstacles while braking suddenly and heavily. These exercises are performed both on dry and wet pavement. Thompson maintains that unless you have pre-programmed your brain to react properly in a panic situation, you will panic, you will lock up the brakes and you will crash.

Each New Driver Car Control Clinic consists of a 90-minute classroom session on a Thursday or Friday evening held at Prince George's Community College; and then one four-hour behind the wheel session on either Saturday or Sunday held at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, Md. Teens need to have at least a Learner's Permit. Each team receives a 56-page workbook and a 45-minute DVD detailing all exercises performed in the Clinic and a Certificate of Completion for submission to their insurance company for a possible discount. The cost of the Clinic is $149 per parent/student team.

Information and online registration are available at www.carcontrol.com/wusa.htm, or call 800-862-3277. Advance reservations are required.

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