| As a part of AAA Foundation's campaign to | | | | materials that can help teens master these |
| reduce vehicle accidents involving teen | | | | skills and become safer drivers at " |
| drivers ages 15 to 20, David Ragan, one of | | | | |
| the youngest drivers in NASCAR is working in | | | | "In racing, we rely on trained professionals |
| conjunction with AAA to educate teen drivers | | | | to prepare and maintain our vehicles. Teens |
| about the significance of safe driving as | | | | also need to have their vehicles inspected |
| well as car maintenance inspection. During | | | | and maintained by qualified technicians. Many |
| the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series last | | | | young people start by driving older cars and |
| February, David Ragan, aged 21 finished the | | | | trucks with a lot of miles on them. They need |
| race obtaining the 5th spot. | | | | to have brakes, steering components and |
| | | | suspensions checked. Tires, lights, fluid |
| David Ragan will travel in schools and other | | | | lines and other items that can wear out need |
| institutions across the United States to | | | | attention too. That's something AAA's |
| speak with youngsters and discuss the safety | | | | Approved Auto Repair program can help them |
| measures and maintenance check tips for their | | | | with. By driving for AAA and its 50 million |
| vehicles. Ragan will also share his safe | | | | members this year - and taking the |
| driving techniques and demonstrate them. In | | | | opportunities they are providing to speak |
| fact, Ragan has already visited some high | | | | with teen drivers - I'm hoping I can shorten |
| schools in Daytona Beach and in Las Vegas and | | | | the learning curve and improve the margin of |
| performed some demo. | | | | safety for people not much younger than |
| | | | myself." he continued. |
| According to David Ragan, driver of the No. 6 | | | | |
| AAA Ford Fusion in the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup | | | | Meanwhile, according to a research conducted |
| Series: "I know the challenges young drivers | | | | by the National Highway Traffic Safety |
| face. There are a lot of temptations and | | | | Administration (NHTSA), there are mote than |
| distractions that can cause inexperienced | | | | 300,000 teens aged 15 to 20 are injured in |
| drivers to loose focus. Managing the driving | | | | car crashes every year and nearly 8,000 are |
| environment and anticipating what can happen | | | | involved in fatal crashes. NHTSA also said |
| on the road is as important for teen drivers | | | | that more than 3,500 teens are killed in |
| as it is for professional race car drivers. | | | | these car crashes each year. Moreover, NHTSA |
| Part of the process is being mentally | | | | also said that young drivers "are more likely |
| prepared to drive, buckling up and thinking | | | | to speed, run red lights, make illegal turns, |
| about the conditions under which you will be | | | | and die in SUV rollover." Teen drivers should |
| driving. It also has to do with not allowing | | | | get the Jeep Patriot SUV with quality Jeep |
| your attention to wander from the road, | | | | thermostat and Side Occupant Protection |
| anticipate turns, change lanes or know when | | | | System to avoid injuries during rollover |
| to slow down or speed up. AAA has training | | | | crashes. |