CHP Catches 400 Bay Area Teens Speeding at AAA's High School Safe Driver Program at Sears Point Raceway; 80,000 Teens Injured in Crashes in 1998.

Business Editors

SONOMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2000

Teens Learn Life-Saving Driving Skills from the Professional

Race Car Driving Instructors from Jim Russell Racing Drivers School

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) does not issue a single speeding ticket to any of the 400 Bay Area teens that slam on the brakes and skid out of control at Sears Point Raceway during AAA's Road to Sears Point Raceway Safety Challenge 2000.

That's because these young drivers are encouraged to put the "pedal to the metal" and "burn rubber," while learning some life-saving driving techniques.

Sponsored by AAA, CHP, Sears Point Raceway and Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, this driving program teaches students enhanced braking, skid and control skills, and accident avoidance techniques within the safe confines of Sears Point Raceway. Students will also receive classroom instruction on vehicle dynamics from the professional driving instructors of the Russell School. After completing the program, professional race car drivers will take the students for thrilling "hot laps" around the racetrack.

"Crashes are the leading killer of teens ages 15 to 19, responsible for one in three deaths," said Merry Banks, manager of AAA's Traffic Safety Department. "California's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law and enhanced driver education are key elements to improving the safety of young drivers on our highways."

California's tough new GDL law is apparently having its desired effect. Records from the CHP comparing the first quarter of 1999 with the same quarter of 1998 show an impressive 20 percent decline in crashes with fatalities and injuries where the at-fault driver was younger than 16. According to the CHP, 314 teens between 16 and 18 were killed and almost 80,000 teens were injured in crashes in 1998 in California.

But an improved licensing system is not the only answer, said Banks. For many years, driver's education was part of most high school curriculums. In recent years, these programs have fallen victim to funding cuts. "Despite the increase of teenage drivers, the number of high schools offering driver's ed. has been cut in half in the past 20 years," continued Banks.

"Those schools that continue to offer this training use standards established almost 50 years ago. AAA's High School Safe Driver Program offers cutting edge training, and challenges teen drivers to be a part of the solution."

The High School Safe Driver Program's eight training sessions are scheduled for Monday, Feb. 28 through Thursday, March 2, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine.

The eight Bay Area schools participating in this year's program include:

         8 a.m. session                   1 p.m. session

Feb. 28  Fairfield HS -- Fairfield        Gunderson HS -- San Jose
Feb. 29  Ygnacio Valley HS -- Concord     Las Lomas HS -- Walnut Creek
March 1  Napa HS -- Napa                  New Technology HS -- Napa
March 2  San Rafael HS -- San Rafael      Terra Linda HS -- San Rafael

Established 100 years ago, AAA offers a wide variety of automotive, insurance, travel and financial services. The California State Automobile Association serves nearly 4 million members and is the second largest affiliate of the AAA organization.

Note to Editors: Numbers of fatalities and injuries for drivers between the ages of 16 and 18 are available for each Bay Area County for 1998, and for January through September 1999.