The Tire Rack Addresses Number One Killer of U.S. Teens

Street Survival(TM) program teaches life-saving driving skills

SOUTH BEND, Ind., Sept. 5 -- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers, accounting for more than 40 percent of fatalities of youths ages 16-19. That is why the family-owned Tire Rack the country's largest independent tire tester and most comprehensive source of tire and wheel information together with the BMW Car Club of America Foundation, is supporting The Tire Rack Street Survival(TM) program. Street Survival(TM) is a national teen driver education course aimed at saving the lives of teens, their passengers and the millions sharing the road by improving teens' skills behind the wheel.

The Tire Rack Street Survival(TM) program teaches the basics of car control and improves driver competence through hands-on experiences in real- world driving situations.

One-day classes are open to permitted and licensed drivers ages 16-21 and held at local venues around the country each weekend. Schedules and registration forms can be found online at http://www.streetsurvival.org/. The cost is $60 per student and many insurance companies offer premium discounts to graduates.

"The statistics are staggering," said Matt Edmonds, Vice President at The Tire Rack. "Much has been done to reduce deaths due to the lack of seatbelt use and the influences of alcohol, but we're addressing the biggest problem, which is the lack of experience behind the wheel. The truth is we all benefit when unnecessary accidents can be avoided."

"High school driver's ed is not enough," said Bill Wade, Street Survival national program manager. "It is an outdated program that puts more emphasis on parallel parking, instead of handling a car traveling 60 miles per hour. The Tire Rack Street Survival program gives young drivers the skills and understanding needed to make correct driving decisions and stay alive."

The Tire Rack feels that by providing the resources to expand Street Survival's local schools, it can have a national impact. "It is tragic that thousands of teens make deadly driving choices every year," said Peter Veldman, President Emeritus of The Tire Rack. "As a grandfather of 12 teen drivers I understand the value of proper driving skills and want to see as many teens as possible get the opportunity to learn these techniques."