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	<title>Teen Driving Solutions</title>
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	<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org</link>
	<description>Training Teens to be Safe, Smart, and Responsible Drivers</description>
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		<title>Study: Voice-Texting Dangerous Behind the Wheel</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/voice-texting-dangerous/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/voice-texting-dangerous/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Apr 2014 21:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drivers Ed]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.com/?p=2002</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Posted: Apr 23, 2013 4:26 PM EDT By Mark Kelly &#8211; bio &#124; email Lynchburg, VA &#8211; A new study is warning drivers about texting on the roads. But, this time the warning is about voice-to-text technology, like iPhone&#8217;s Siri. Siri and others like it are more hands-free than the old-fashion texting with your fingers, but does that mean it&#8217;s safe to use on the road? According to this study, recording a text message by speaking in to your phone isn&#8217;t any safer than typing texts when you&#8217;re behind the wheel. Texas A&#38;M Transportation Institute did the research and, ABC 13 did an experiment of our own. To do our own little voice-texting experiment, we enlisted help from Ken Frederick, a driving instructor. The pressure was on. &#8220;You got me nervous here, Ken,&#8221; said Mark Kelly, reporter. The goal: weave in and out of an obstacle course of cones while using the voice-to-text gadget on my cellphone. Let&#8217;s just say I had a rough start. &#8220;First, I have to find the icon. That&#8217;s already slowing me down and taking my eyes off the road,&#8221; said Kelly. Frederick timed me. First, without voice-texting. Then, with. &#8220;Hey, can you meet me in five minutes?&#8221; Kelly said. My results were lousy. &#8220;More than likely, he would be out of control and involved in a crash, possibly a rollover situation, and maybe even hitting someone else,&#8221; said Frederick, describing my driving. The TTI study had similar results. It had 43 drivers voice-text and drive in a real-world environment. Researchers found voice-texters took twice as long to react. Plus, their performance was roughly bad for both finger and voice-texting. Drivers even felt a false sense of security doing voice instead of finger-texting. We took the test to the public. &#8220;All of my friends text and drive. I&#8217;m going to be honest. I&#8217;ve been in almost near accident situations because my friends were texting and driving,&#8221; said Jarrett Morton, driver. Karyn Curran has a solution. &#8220;I think software should be installed so that where they get in to their car, texting is automatically cut off, and they can&#8217;t text until the car is cut off,&#8221; said Curran. Technology like that would&#8217;ve made my drive much safer. &#8220;Any type of distraction is going to increase the person&#8217;s risk of having a crash,&#8221; said Frederick. Just want to remind folks, for our texting experiment, we were in a controlled environment under the direction of a trained driving instructor. That driving instructor reminds us that texting can be just as deadly as driving under the influence.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/voice-texting-dangerous/">Study: Voice-Texting Dangerous Behind the Wheel</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
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		<title>Common Myths Parents Have About Driving and Safety</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/myths-about-driving-safety/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/myths-about-driving-safety/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Apr 2014 20:43:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drivers Ed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen driving school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teenage drivers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.com/?p=1909</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Myth #1 &#8211; Parents today believe their teen will wreck their first car because they did: Most parents we speak with do believe their teenager will wreck their first car.  They follow that statement by saying, “I did”.  These parents see crashing as a legitimate form of learning.  These parents also hold the same feelings of invincibility as their teens because they fail to see the possibility that the wreck they are expecting will be a fatal or life altering incident. A mom I know is one of those people who is always on the phone while driving (and she’s a nurse).  Her daughter has just gotten her drivers permit.  I’ve talked with them many times about putting her through our program.  They say they want to do that and say it would be good for her but never register.  Two weeks ago, I saw a photo on Facebook that the daughter took (girl driving/mom front passenger seat/sibling in rear seat).  She held the camera out far enough to get everyone in the photo which was taken in the car IN TRAFFIC.  If I’m being totally honest, I’m afraid I will be attending her funeral in the next year. Both parents wrecked their first car and mom has told me that she expects her daughter will wreck her first one too. Myth #2 &#8211; Busy Schedules Contribute to Putting Teens in Driver&#8217;s Seat Faster Today than Ever: Another issue with parents today is the busy schedules they hold.  More and more people commute longer distances and there are more and more school activities their children are involved in and time becomes a premium in any given day.  As a result, the sooner they can put their teen behind the wheel without supervision, the more freedom of time is achieved. I have a close friend who used to teach Driver Ed and he would regularly fail kids who came through his class.  He was tough and they either made it or they didn’t.  The man has told me countless stories of parents who would phone him up and express their displeasure over the fact that he failed their child.  One guy even threatened to come to his house and kick his ass.  In all cases, the general theme used by these parents to this Driver Ed instructor was, “do you realize how much inconvenience this will cause in our family’s schedule since little Johnny won’t be able to drive for another 6 months?” Myth #3 &#8211; Drivers Education is Sufficient Preparation for Driving and Safety Most parents hold the belief that Drivers Education is sufficient to prepare their teen to drive and that, coupled with their first wreck, is the normal learning process by which a teen becomes a good driver.  But I think we also need to look at the parents view of their own driving.  I’ve never heard anyone say they are a bad or unsafe driver.  They will tell you every possible scenario they’ve seen about the “other guys” driving issues but they themselves are good safe drivers.  Yeah, they’ve had a few wrecks and such but again, it was someone else&#8217;s fault and their poor driving skills that caused it. When their teen is behind the wheel, they may give a few comments or pointers but basically, they’re being chauffeured and catching up on their office work, updating their facebook page or reading a book.  Parents believe Drivers Ed already taught their teen how to drive and they’re certain the first wreck won’t occur when they’re in the car because they know their kid is on his/her best behavior. &#160; &#160;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/myths-about-driving-safety/">Common Myths Parents Have About Driving and Safety</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
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		<title>Did You See that Stop Sign?  Distracted Driving Teenagers</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/distracted-driving-teenagers-2/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/distracted-driving-teenagers-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:50:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Distracted Driving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[distractions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teenage drivers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.org/?p=2656</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Distracted Driving Teenagers Tips Due to your limited driving education, training and experience you can’t afford to get caught up with distractions in or outside your vehicles.  However, as a teenager, the biggest problem will be realizing the importance of that statement because quite frankly, if you think you can safely drive and text or talk on the phone, you’re already distracted.  If you think you can safely drive without taking the time to put your seat belt on, you’re distracted.  If you think you can drive safely simply because you’ve done it to this point, you know where the brake and gas pedals are and you can steer in a straight line, you’re already distracted.  Distracted from the truth about the dangers and risks you face. What does distracted from the truth mean?  You as a teenager at some point in your life found yourself in trouble with mom and dad or a teacher at school because you failed to do what you were asked (or told) you had to do.  Why didn’t you simply complete the task?  Maybe you forgot or perhaps you didn’t think you’d really be in trouble.  Perhaps you didn’t think the consequences would actually be implemented.  Or, maybe you just thought it didn’t matter, it was no big deal and you never even planned on completing the task. The point is, it was a big deal, there was a consequence and it took that experience to teach you the importance of doing what you are asked.  Sadly, when it comes to driving, the consequences can be much harsher and in fact, life threatening.  But unless you are willing to take driving seriously, you will continue putting your life in harm’s way and never realize the full potential of the dangers you face.  You are distracted by your invincible nature, your self-justification that it “won’t happen to me” and you’re predisposed to thinking that even if it did happen, the consequences would be minimal. The truth is a high percentage of teen vehicle fatalities result from teens who fail to buckle their seat belt and are ejected from their vehicle, teens who lose control and over-correct because they lack proper vehicle control skills and teens who are driving too fast for conditions.   So here’s my challenge to teen drivers. Before you start the engine in your vehicle; Clear you mind of everything that you’re planning to do once you reach your destination. Prepare yourself for safety by setting your mirrors, seats and buckling your seat belt. Set a GOAL to arrive alive and drive with your full attention and focus on achieving that goal. Put your phone out of reach and ignore it until you reach your destination. Consciously face the fact that driving is the number one cause of death for teenagers. Take your driving seriously!! It is time we all change the way we think about driving.  The person who thinks they can text and drive is the person who believes it can’t happen to them.  Let’s be honest with ourselves, it can (and does) happen (crashes, injuries, loss of life) and most of you if you’re honest, already know someone else that it happened too. I encourage all of you to face the truth head-on. Change the way you think, set a goal to arrive alive and drive like your very life depended on it because it does. Distractions will literally kill you. The NHTSA Website www.distraction.gov identifies three types of distracted driving. visual, taking your eyes off of the road manual, taking your hands off of the wheel mental, letting your mind wander &#160; Which of the three is the most prevalent — or the most dangerous — is largely a matter of opinion, but they’re all risky. A moving car with a distracted driver is basically a missile aimed at pretty much anything. In a 2006 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 80% of all collisions were blamed on drivers engaged in distracting activities. The study determined that the most common distraction for drivers was using a cell phone while driving, and the number of crashes while dialing a number was roughly equivalent with the number of crashes while the driver was talking or listening. Various distracting activities increase your likelihood of being involved in crash. Talking or listening on a hand-held device 1.3 times more likely Dialing a hand-held device 3 times more likely Applying makeup or grooming 3 times more likely Reading 3 times more likely Looking at something outside the car 3.7 times more likely Reaching for a dropped or moving object 9 times more likely NHTSA, &#8220;The Impact of Driver Inattention on Near-Crash/Crash Risk&#8221; 2006. Learn more about distracted driving parents&#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/distracted-driving-teenagers-2/">Did You See that Stop Sign?  Distracted Driving Teenagers</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
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		<title>You&#8217;re Swerving on the Road Dad!  Tips for Parents Distracted Driving</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/parents-distracted-driving/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/parents-distracted-driving/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:37:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Distracted Driving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[distractions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.org/?p=2649</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Distracted Driving Parents When you think about “distracted driving”, you&#8217;ve been conditioned to think in terms of cell phones and texting.  However, it is time to start seeing this in a much broader scope because of the danger distractions represent to ALL drivers on the road. To set the stage for a broader thinking approach, consider the following fact: At 55 mph, your vehicle travels 60 feet per second AND Taking your eyes off the road for just 2 seconds means you have traveled 120 feet totally unaware of what is happening around you. Therefore, with respect to “distractions”, all drivers should consciously consider these questions:  How long does it take you to locate and adjust the heat or a/c controls? How long does it take you to find and remove the French Fry from the fast food bag? How long do you spend finding a new radio station or loading a new CD in the player? How much time do you spend viewing the map on your navigation system? These are all actual and valid distractions that in most cases require more than 2 seconds to successfully complete.  (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the image) There are other distractions that many drivers, like you, don’t even think about which may not take their eyes off the road but certainly takes the focus off driving: How many of you find yourself concentrating on a work related issue and don’t realize the traffic light is changing or people are stopping in front of you? How long do you spend staring at the personalized plate on the car in front of you trying to decipher what it means while ignoring everything else around you? Do you narrow the gap between your car and the one in front to an unsafe distance so you can read their bumper sticker? These are distractions because your mind (and in some cases your eyes) are being taken off the primary focus required for safe driving and it only takes an instant for everything to go horribly wrong. I urge you to broaden your definitions of distractions to include anything that is non-urgent, unnecessary or unrelated to the critical task of driving your vehicle safely. Limiting your definition of a distraction will limit your conscious recognition for the things that can cost you your life. It’s time for you to think differently about how (and why) you drive.  It’s not just your personal safety at risk here, your views, behaviors and habits are being adopted and copied by your teenagers! Lead by example and set the standard high.  Please, Please, Please! Read our Distracted Driving Teenagers Tips next.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/parents-distracted-driving/">You&#8217;re Swerving on the Road Dad!  Tips for Parents Distracted Driving</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<title>Driving is a SPORT and its Purpose is to WIN</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/driving-sport-purpose-win/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/driving-sport-purpose-win/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2013 12:01:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[distractions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drivers Ed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen driving school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen safe driver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teenage drivers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.org/?p=2627</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Why are thousands of drivers and passengers killed each year in vehicle crashes? First and foremost it’s because they aren&#8217;t engaged in the game and they’re not in it to win.  Driving is as much a “sport” as football, baseball, hockey or soccer.  The field, arena or court where the sport of driving takes place is our roads and highways and the net, goal posts or home base is our destination.  Like all sports the object is to win and in driving, winning is arriving alive without causing harm to yourself, your passengers, other drivers or any vehicles. We view driving as a pass time. The problem in this country is we don’t view driving seriously enough and we certainly don’t see it as a sport.  Most drivers don’t see it in any type of competitive manner and therefore they don’t prepare for it or realize the value in perfecting their performance or driving abilities.  The truth is, most drivers spend more time planning what they’ll do at their destination than how they will safely get there.  If you’re not willing to view driving as a serious sport, please park your vehicle and take the bus! I’m very serious when I say please take the bus. Who wants to watch a football, baseball, volleyball or basketball game where one of the players is drunk?  Who would root for a team or player who, in the middle of a play stops to send or read a text?  Who would pay to see a sporting event where the game is constantly interrupted by players being penalized for not obeying the rules or where the majority of the players are not playing to win?  There would be no World Series or Super Bowls if these athletes played like most people drive. It is time for all drivers to change the way they think about driving and begin viewing their driving activities as a competitive sport.  The moment your vehicle is “in motion” it requires the same attention and focus as when the “ball” is in play during a sports event.  You will never see a quarterback in a football game glancing around at the fans before making a pass.  You will not see an outfielder checking his cell phone when a batter is at the plate and you will not see a Goalie skating around his net when the puck is flying around the ice. I am the only good driver on the road Stop thinking you are the only “good” driver on the road because if you’re not viewing driving in the same manner as a professional athlete playing a sport, you’re disconnected from the game and you’re not in it to win.  When you don’t view driving as a full-fledged professional sport, you have no strategy, no plan, no goal and therefore no business being “on the field”.  In reality, you are an untrained novice trying to play in the big leagues, potentially causing harm to the game, the players and yourself. By the same token, athletes recognize the value and purpose of the equipment required in their sport.  You won’t find a football player entering the field with only one shoulder pad.  You won’t find a hockey player entering the ice with dull skates and you won’t see a basketball player with his shoes untied.  Yet, thousands of drivers enter the road with worn tires, defective or worn out brakes and warning lights flashing on their dash telling them there is a mechanical issue that needs attention.  These drivers are not in the game to win, they are simply spectators who have wandered onto the field and interrupted the game. However, if you begin viewing driving as a competitive sport where the goal is to arrive alive every time without causing harm to anyone or anything, you will immediately see the value in placing a higher focus on what you do behind the wheel.  You will begin planning your drives to meet the goal of arriving alive and you will begin driving that plan with the intention of “winning.”  When you have that goal and a plan to successfully achieve that goal, you will drive with an intense focus on safety and you will have a greater respect for life and the dangers that exist in the sport of driving. Start today driving to win!</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/driving-sport-purpose-win/">Driving is a SPORT and its Purpose is to WIN</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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		<title>Advanced Teen Driving School with Family Focus</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/teen-driving-school-family-focus/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/teen-driving-school-family-focus/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Aug 2013 23:24:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[defensive driving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen driving school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teenage drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advanced Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[driver's education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Driving Solutions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National Teen Driver Safety Week]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teen Driver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen driving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teenage Drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teenage driving]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.org/?p=2482</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Our Teen Driving School offers courses that focus on both the mental and physical skills needed for your teen to be a safe, responsible driver. It’s a teen driving school program that’s designed to supplement parents’ coaching with further teen education, while simultaneously helping those parents continue that education down the road. After all, the DMV’s expectation is that you are responsible to ensure your teen driver’s safety. The teen driving school classes provide teens a mix of both hands-on behind-the-wheel training to improve vehicle control, and a class curriculum focused on mental skills. Teens learn to improve decision-making on the road, the physics of safely controlling a vehicle in real life situations and mental habits that avoid distractions. Learn more and register your teen for our Teen Driving School today! Our Teen Driving School is a registered nonprofit with a mission of reducing the rate of teen deaths by automobile accidents throughout Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Still questioning whether this is the right teen driving school program for your teen?  Take a look at this teen driving school comparison chart to help you make the best choice!</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/teen-driving-school-family-focus/">Advanced Teen Driving School with Family Focus</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
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		<title>Dead Squirrels and Your Teen Driver</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/dead-squirrels-teen-driver/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/dead-squirrels-teen-driver/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jul 2013 14:22:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drivers Ed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen safe driver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teenage drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[young drivers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.com/?p=2323</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>My teen driver will not have a fatal crash We live in a world where we all believe “it won’t happen to me” or “it won’t happen in my family” but the truth is, countless things go wrong in our daily lives that we never expected or anticipated.  Fortunately, many of these situations are not life altering although that may seem that way at the time. For instance, I read a story recently that involved a family’s encounter with a dead squirrel.  It began with a foul odor on their screened in porch that grew from a mild annoyance to what they described as the most toxic, disgusting smell they had ever experienced.  As they attempted to investigate the source of this smell, they found a 4 inch gap between the ground and the floor of the porch which was big enough to allow an animal to get trapped. The whole point of this very humorously written story revolved around the cost options for getting rid of the horrible odor around their porch.  The man’s mother-in-law suggested tearing down the old porch and constructing a new one which they estimated would cost around $20,000 dollars.  But the option they settled on was calling a local pest control company and having them locate and remove the source of the smell which was a dead squirrel trapped under the porch.  In the end, the pest control company charged them $125.00 and shortly there-after, the stench was gone. By comparison, $125.00 seemed incredibly cheap verses $20K for a new porch but when they realized it only took the pest control man 5 minutes to complete the removal of the squirrel; they were actually paying the equivalent of $1500.00 per hour. Regardless, under these circumstances, spending $125.00 immediately improved their quality of life, saved them the cost and time of constructing a new porch and the money back guarantee the pest control company offered made their decision risk free.  The fact is, this family would have paid triple that amount to have prevented this situation&#8230;a situation they thought couldn&#8217;t possibly happen. What does this have to do with the cost of educating and training your teen driver? Everything!  How often do any of us worry about what it will cost if a squirrel dies under our porch? Not often, if ever. However, as parents, most of you worry about your child being involved in a vehicle crash after they get their driver license. How many of you consider what that crash will ultimately cost you? Teen driver crashes cost our country $40 billion dollars each year and while the bulk of that money is paid by your insurance carriers, it is taken from your bank account in the monthly premiums you pay. If you have a teen driver and they are involved in any type of physical damage incident, your insurance premium will double. A second crash will cause it to triple and those increases don’t include the potential cost of personal injury that may result from a crash. Ponder these questions for a moment: What if your teen driver suffered a serious injury that required major surgery or rehabilitation? What would the medical expenses amount too? What if the driver of the other vehicle involved decided to sue your family? What could those costs amount too? What if your child was killed in a crash? Could you even put a dollar figure on that loss? None of us want to believe that our children will be injured or killed in a vehicle crash but the fact is, “driving is the number one cause of death for teenagers in America” and over 400,000 teens are injured in vehicle crashes each year.  Simply believing it won’t happen to your child will not prevent a tragedy from occurring and unlike the dead squirrel incident, family life won’t return to normal in 5 minutes time. In fact, it may never return to normal. You Can Do Something Now &#8211; You Are in Control to Help Your Teen Driver However, what would you pay to significantly and effectively reduce your teens risk for being involved in a crash? What are you willing to pay to avoid having your car insurance premiums double or triple, to suffer the inconvenience of having your vehicle repaired, to prevent your teen from suffering injury or worse yet, death as a result of a simple driving mistake?  According to all statistics, 77% of teenage vehicle fatalities are the result of driver error (mistakes). Teen Driving Solutions School, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization charges $595.00 for a full two day training seminar that effectively reduces a teen drivers risk for crashing by educating and training both the teen and their parents.  The seminars we conduct are currently producing a 99% success rate and we’re so confident we can dramatically reduce driving risks for teen drivers; we offer a money back guarantee. If you found yourself nodding your head in agreement to paying $125.00 ($1500.00 per hour) to remove that dead squirrel and the stench it created, are you not also persuaded to see the value in spending $595.00 ($37.19 per hour) to protect the life of your teenager and significantly reduce their risk for crashing, injury or death? At a minimum, isn&#8217;t the cost of one training seminar less than the insurance premium increase you would pay if your child has a wreck? In the world in which we live, things can, do and will happen that we never believe will.  But when that situation involves an issue that can negatively impact the quality of your family’s life and potentially place your teens life in harm’s way, I hope this simple story about a dead squirrel will forever change how you think about preparing your teen for driving.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/dead-squirrels-teen-driver/">Dead Squirrels and Your Teen Driver</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
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		<title>Why is Advanced Teenage Driving Training Critical for Teen Drivers?</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/teenage-driving-advanced-training/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/teenage-driving-advanced-training/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jul 2013 13:25:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drivers Ed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advanced Training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cause Of Death]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Driving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Driving Solutions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National Teen Driver Safety Week]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Number One Cause Of Death]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Road Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teen Driver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teen driving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teenage Drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teenage driving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Texting While Driving]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.com/?p=2309</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>The Teen Driving Survey Says&#8230; A recent study by State Farm and the research firm Harris Interactive concludes: 1/2 of teen drivers feel they have no control over whether they will be involved in a crash, fatal or not, while they’re behind the wheel of a car. Teens are unaware of the dangers driving represents with their level of inexperience. Parents, Educators, and Legislators Must: Accept the reality that our nations teenage drivers have been set up to fail Acknowledge teenage driving is the number one cause of death for teenagers Know that half of all teenagers are unaware of the dangers involved in teenage driving We should not be surprised that over 4000 teens are killed each year in vehicle crashes When our teenage drivers don’t feel they have the skills to prevent or avoid a crash it should be obvious to all of us that they do not understand what enables them to safely control a vehicle.  Would any of us be willing to board an airplane if we knew the pilots felt they had no control over whether they could land that plane safely at our destination? Yet, every day parents hand over the keys to teenage drivers who’s only education is based on knowledge of the rules and the ability to steer a vehicle between the white lines on the road and complete a full stop at either a stop sign or red traffic light.  This limited teenage driving training fails to connect our teen drivers with any form of knowledge about the 3500 pound weapon they are expected to drive in a safe responsible manner and explains why our teens feel powerless to prevent being involved in a crash. Ending Our National Statistic &#8211; Teenage Driving is the #1 cause of death to teens The key to ending our national statistic that “driving is the number one cause of death for teenagers in America” must begin with skill based training that properly connects the driver with the vehicles they drive by providing them with education and training about their vehicles abilities and limitations and a full understanding of the mechanisms that enable them to safely control that vehicle.  When a driver fully comprehends the controlling aspects of the vehicle they’re driving, their confidence for safely controlling that vehicle will increase and their risk for crashing will decrease. Teenage Driving is a matter of life and death It is imperative that both parents and teens: Understand the seriousness of the risks involved. Seek out professional education and training (instead of depending and trusting free or low cost state based education). Teen Driving Solutions School was established to help families change the way they think about driving while connecting parents and teens with skill based training for safely and responsibly controlling their vehicle. Arriving Alive doesn&#8217;t happen by chance, it is achieved by the training process that connects the mind and body with the vehicle and centers everything on the “goal” to arrive alive. Register and get yourself and your teen to our next event!</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/teenage-driving-advanced-training/">Why is Advanced Teenage Driving Training Critical for Teen Drivers?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
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		<title>Building a Case for Changing Drivers Ed Articles  (Part II)</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/drivers-education-in-america/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/drivers-education-in-america/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 11:58:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drivers Ed]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.com/?p=2172</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Changing Drivers Ed in America  (Part II) The belief that inexperience plays a significant role in why teen drivers are involved in more crashes and vehicle fatalities than any other age group of drivers is a widely held belief by most people.  On the surface, it seems like a logical and almost common sense conclusion when you consider that teenage drivers make up 7% of the driving population but they’re involved in 14% of the fatal crashes. Along with the inexperience theory are two somewhat related beliefs that compound the effects of inexperience.  First is the invincible nature teens possess.  When invincibility is combined with inexperience, crashing during the learning to drive years becomes a somewhat expected result.  Second is the scientific data that shows the teenage brain isn’t fully developed until teens reach their middle twenties. According to scientific brain studies, the frontal region which controls impulses and emotions is the last part of the brain to develop.  Therefore, without the ability to keep their impulses in check while at the stage in life where they feel most invincible and lacking sufficient experience behind the wheel, it seems quite believable that teens would be almost predisposed to crashing. However, the statistics simply don’t support these conclusions.  Take for example the first chart I displayed in Part I of this series.  The number of drivers killed in the 20-24 year old group possesses 4-9 years more experience than the teen groups yet their death tolls (5901) is roughly 25% higher than those between the ages of 16-19.  Even the death tolls for 25-29 year olds fails to show any significant benefit from their additional years of driving experience. If inexperience is truly the primary cause behind most teenage vehicle fatalities, where is the evidence of gain after 10-12 years of additional experience?  The statistics don’t reflect any.  At what point in the experience equation should we begin to see some major improvement? Likewise, consider the statistics for single vehicle crashes.  Obviously, these are instances where the respective drivers bear the burden of responsibility over the loss of control and resulting crash.  For teenage drivers, this represents 48% of their fatal crashes.  For drivers 20-24 years old, it represents 47% and for those 25-29 years of age, it represents 43%.  If experience is the key, where is the evidence to support this? The argument for inexperience really gets lost when you apply it to seat belt use.  The generation involved in these statistics grew up wearing seat belts from the day they were born.  If experience in the context of driving produces safer driver habits, behaviors and results, why do over half of the fatal teen crashes involve unbelted drivers and passengers?  Worse yet, why do these percentages continue to increase with more driving experience? Perhaps the lack of seat belt use is more likely a result of their invincible nature.  The statistical evidence certainly confirms there is significant risk involved in not wearing a seat belt.  So, ignoring this evidence could suggest these drivers don’t take this risk serious and believe, to some degree, it just won’t happen to them. On the other hand, while the invincibility theory fits well in the seat belt example, it fails to show through in other statistics.  Being invincible generally means there is a propensity towards risky or reckless behavior and since driving behaviors and actual speeds are not represented in the statistics, it is unclear whether invincibility plays any significant role in fatal crashes.  Additionally, when the “driver error” factor is applied, the potential significance declines further. While it’s generally not wise to argue against science, I’m going to go out on a limb and do it anyway.  Science may be able to prove its underdeveloped brain theory in part on the statistical evidence for the crashes that have occurred, but how do you explain the higher percentage of teens who weren’t involved in crashes?  Similarly, are we saying that the fatalities involved in 25-29 year old group suggests their brains never fully developed? Here again, the case for better education and training seems to strengthen.  To illustrate this point, ask yourself this question.  Would you (or your teen) or even someone you know go swimming or water skiing when sharks are present or intentionally stand in an open field during a lightning storm?  If not, why? If the decisions to avoid entering the water or field are not based on personal experience, then I submit these decisions are based on a level of comprehension for the dangers these actions pose.  Since more teens are killed in car crashes than shark attacks or lightning strikes, there is some evidence here to suggest that regardless of how invincible they feel or how under-developed their brain is, the comprehension for danger is education related. Experience can be a valuable learning tool when the lesson doesn’t cost you your life.  It is also true that invincibility turns to vulnerability when a person comprehends the reality of the risk and begins to take that seriously and if the only cure for controlling impulses was waiting for the brain to fully develop, driving would not be the number one cause of death for teenagers. In Part III of our series, we’ll take a look at various initiatives that were designed to reduce teen vehicle fatalities and see if they’ve been successful or merely treatments for the symptoms.  We’ll also introduce some additional statistics that provide some new perspective on the issue.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/drivers-education-in-america/">Building a Case for Changing Drivers Ed Articles  (Part II)</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
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		<title>Study: Voice-Texting Dangerous Behind the Wheel</title>
		<link>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/study-voice-texting-dangerous-behind-the-wheel/</link>
		<comments>http://teendrivingsolutions.org/study-voice-texting-dangerous-behind-the-wheel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:01:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dr. Dar Hawks]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Drivers Ed]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.teendrivingsolutions.com/?p=2003</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Posted: Apr 23, 2013 4:26 PM EDT By Mark Kelly &#8211; bio &#124; email Lynchburg, VA &#8211; A new study is warning drivers about texting on the roads. But, this time the warning is about voice-to-text technology, like iPhone&#8217;s Siri. Siri and others like it are more hands-free than the old-fashion texting with your fingers, but does that mean it&#8217;s safe to use on the road? According to this study, recording a text message by speaking in to your phone isn&#8217;t any safer than typing texts when you&#8217;re behind the wheel. Texas A&#38;M Transportation Institute did the research and, ABC 13 did an experiment of our own. To do our own little voice-texting experiment, we enlisted help from Ken Frederick, a driving instructor. The pressure was on. &#8220;You got me nervous here, Ken,&#8221; said Mark Kelly, reporter. The goal: weave in and out of an obstacle course of cones while using the voice-to-text gadget on my cellphone. Let&#8217;s just say I had a rough start. &#8220;First, I have to find the icon. That&#8217;s already slowing me down and taking my eyes off the road,&#8221; said Kelly. Frederick timed me. First, without voice-texting. Then, with. &#8220;Hey, can you meet me in five minutes?&#8221; Kelly said. My results were lousy. &#8220;More than likely, he would be out of control and involved in a crash, possibly a rollover situation, and maybe even hitting someone else,&#8221; said Frederick, describing my driving. The TTI study had similar results. It had 43 drivers voice-text and drive in a real-world environment. Researchers found voice-texters took twice as long to react. Plus, their performance was roughly bad for both finger and voice-texting. Drivers even felt a false sense of security doing voice instead of finger-texting. We took the test to the public. &#8220;All of my friends text and drive. I&#8217;m going to be honest. I&#8217;ve been in almost near accident situations because my friends were texting and driving,&#8221; said Jarrett Morton, driver. Karyn Curran has a solution. &#8220;I think software should be installed so that where they get in to their car, texting is automatically cut off, and they can&#8217;t text until the car is cut off,&#8221; said Curran. Technology like that would&#8217;ve made my drive much safer. &#8220;Any type of distraction is going to increase the person&#8217;s risk of having a crash,&#8221; said Frederick. Just want to remind folks, for our texting experiment, we were in a controlled environment under the direction of a trained driving instructor. That driving instructor reminds us that texting can be just as deadly as driving under the influence.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org/study-voice-texting-dangerous-behind-the-wheel/">Study: Voice-Texting Dangerous Behind the Wheel</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://teendrivingsolutions.org">Teen Driving Solutions</a>.</p>
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