overall safety

Basic driver's education courses do not teach safe driving skills; just "rules of the road". It is important that a teenage driver understand those elements in driving that he/she can control and those that he/she cannot control and therefore must react to. The skills learned in the TEEN STREET SKILLS program will last a lifetime. Also, when parents are actively involved with their teenager’s driving and are good role models, better decision-making happens when teens are behind the wheel.

SKID CONTROL

All seasoned drivers have experienced a skid event at some point, perhaps caused by ice or wet pavement. The first time it happens can be terrifying, especially for a teenager still learning to drive. Without the knowledge of how to control the vehicle in a skid, this often times will result in an accident. The Teen Street Skills Program simulates an actual skid condition and teaches teens how to properly react and control the vehicle by employing the CPR method (Correction, Pause, Recovery) so as to avoid having an accident.

EVASIVE LANE CHANGE MANEUVER

Learning to quickly change lanes to avoid hitting an object is an essential driving technique. Maintaining control of your vehicle relies on balance of wheel control and your speed. Teens will practice the exercise of:

1. Avoiding object
2. Positioning vehicle in adjacent open lane
3. Controlling vehicle with controlled movement of steering wheel

EMERGENCY BRAKING

Obviously teens learn to brake in a driver education course. But what is not taught is the practice of emergency braking in a sudden stop scenario. With the inclusion of ABS in most vehicles today, how does that change the braking methodology in a sudden stop scenario. Teens need to understand how hard they can apply these ABS brakes and to experience the pulsate on the brake petal. Teens also need to learn braking and turning simultaneously with ABS and experience how that can control their vehicle.

ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE

Avoiding accidents happens when teens apply all these skills learned above. But there are scenarios that require special knowledge in order to maintain safety and avoid being in an accident. Those include:

• Deer crossing avoidance
• Whiteout snow conditions
• Loss of brakes or power steering

It is critical that teen drivers are aware of their surroundings at all times while behind the wheel. An important tip: Always Knowing Your Out.

DISTRACTED & IMPAIRED DRIVING

Your eyes are the center of control of a vehicle. Your hands and feet simply react to what your eyes are telling them. If your eyes are not seeing what is in front of you and aware of what is around you, then it is IMPOSSIBLE for any driver to be in control of their vehicle. Teens must be taught to CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR while behind the wheel of their vehicle; teens must TRAIN their eyes to only see what is important to control their driving experience and to FEEL loss of control if there eyes wander to cell phones, radios, eating, or are slowed by drugs or alcohol. SEEING is control, and reaction is only possible when you are seeing what you are reacting to.

INTERACTING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT

Most drivers will be pulled over by law enforcement for some reason, but the first time for a teenager can be frightening and nerve-racking. But it doesn’t have to be. An Officer from the Detroit Police Department will talk with teens about the experience of being pulled over, and what to do and not to do. What should a teen do if they are involved in an accident? Or if their vehicle played a part in causing or the teen witnesses an accident?

Please note: The Officer will be in full uniform (with weapon), as they would be for everyday active duty.

CAR KNOWLEDGE 2.0

Tire pressure? How to measure it? When do you use high beams? Seat positioning? Where is your car battery and what does it mean to "jump it"? Where is the spare and what to do if you have a flat? I’m out of windshield wiper fluid and cant see the road. What now? All these questions and more are answered by vehicle professionals as they walk teens around a car for this look inside and under the hood of a vehicle.

Car Financing 2.0

Car financing 2.0 is fun and engaging content for teens and parents to learn about purchasing their first car and what types of things they should expect or know before they start shopping. This segment of the course will cover credit, costs of a car, budgeting and of course, car financing! There are tons of opportunities for students to win various prizes.

DRIVING BASICS & DEFENSIVE DRIVING BEHAVIOR

There are AWARENESS BEHIND THE WHEELS tips that every teen needs to know in order to be a PROACTIVE driver:

• Never make assumptions about what another vehicle is going to do.
• 7 car lengths following distance allows for adequate braking distance.
• Your eyes drive the car. Your hands and feet are simply reacting to what your eyes are telling to do.
• Always know where your "out" is
• See your perimeter
• Anticipate potential scenarios (i.e. brake lights are lighting up a ¼ mile ahead)

These tips and more will help every teen to be not only a safe driver, but a PROACTIVE one.