September 13, 2011 > Free life-saving driving skills for teens Free life-saving driving skills for teens Submitted By Kristen Hampel Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of America's teens according to the National Traffic Safety Administration. In 2009, there were 3,081 motor vehicle related fatalities in the state of California. Of those fatalities, 687 (or about 22 percent) were young people aged 16 to 24. Driver's Edge, with its innovative and potentially life-saving instructional program, will make its seventeenth visit to California to help tackle this problem. On September 17 and 18, young drivers can benefit from this non-profit organization's free program as the 2011 Driver's Edge National Tour visits California's Great America. Driver's Edge includes the following elements: Classroom and behind-the-wheel defensive driving instruction on skid control, evasive lane change maneuvers, anti-lock braking skills and panic-braking techniques, plus written tests designed to test knowledge both before and after students are behind the wheel; Local law enforcement participation, including impaired driving awareness and seat belt safety; Proper car maintenance session based on Firestone Complete Auto Care's Car Care Academies. This half-day program presented with an "MTV flavor" includes classroom and behind-the-wheel training for young drivers. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend as well. Young drivers, aged 15 to 21, must possess a valid learner's permit or driver's license and need to register in advance at www.driversedge.org. There is no charge for young drivers to attend, due to private charitable donations and the support of community-minded partners such as Bridgestone Americas, Inc., Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (the "presenting partner" of the Driver's Edge National Tour), Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC and the IZOD IndyCar Series. Driver's Edge Training for Teens Saturday, Sep 17 and Sunday, Sep 18 Sessions: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Great America 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara Register at: www.driversedge.org No charge for teen drivers. Advance registration required Must have a valid learner's permit or license