| In the past, the most rampant cause of traffic | | | | Paul Holdridge, the Vice President and the General |
| accidents is drunk driving but through years of | | | | Manager of Toyota's Chicago Region, have this to say |
| awareness campaign, the number of drunk driving | | | | about their program: "Toyota is committed to providing |
| related accidents have gone down. Recently though, it | | | | teens with the tools they need to be better prepared |
| seems that another serious threat to traffic safety is | | | | on the road and to become better drivers. Since its |
| teen driving. | | | | inception in 2004, more than 4,000 teens and parents |
| While there are responsible teen drivers, statistics | | | | have successfully completed the Toyota Driving |
| shows that 14 percent of accidents resulting in death | | | | Expectations program, which was developed after |
| involved teenagers. In Chicago alone, more than ten | | | | several pilots and valuable feedback from teens, |
| teenagers have died this year as a result of traffic | | | | parents and the National Safety Council." |
| accidents. To address this threat, the auto industry and | | | | The program is a unique one since Toyota will be |
| its players have been taking steps towards educating | | | | educating participants based on real-world situations. |
| teens and parents alike on safe driving issues. | | | | The program's goal is for the teens and parents to |
| The Toyota Motor Corporation recently announced | | | | understand the relationship between distraction and |
| that they will be bringing their Toyota Driving | | | | reaction in a real-world situation. Participants will be |
| Expectations program to the state of Illinois. The said | | | | made to navigate a driving course while doing other |
| program aims to educate teens and parents to help | | | | things like drinking water or talking ion the phone. For |
| reduce the number of fatal accidents involving teens. | | | | teens, listening to loud music will be a part of the driving |
| The program will be held at Six Flags Great America | | | | program. |
| in Gurnee, Illinois from April 20 through 22. | | | | These activities are seen as possible distractions to |
| The company known for their upward surge in the U.S. | | | | drivers which can seriously affect the driving response |
| auto scene is using the Toyota Driving Expectations to | | | | of a driver in cases of emergency. Activities such as |
| teach teen drivers about defensive driving techniques. | | | | those mentioned put the driver and the passengers at |
| The program will be for free and interested | | | | risk and even if a car is equipped with EBC brake |
| participants would just need to register online by visiting | | | | rotors, it will be useless when the driver fails to react |
| the official website for this program which could be | | | | properly. |
| accessed through | | | | |