Jim Russell Teen Driving Program Trains Better Drivers, Donates Cash to Schools; Marin County PSTA First to Join Jim Russell's S.A.F.E.S.T. Driving Program

SONOMA, Calif.--March 8, 2004--To encourage more new, inexperienced young drivers to master the driving skills needed in emergency situations and to avoid accidents, Jim Russell Racing Drivers School in Sonoma County has introduced its S.A.F.E.S.T. (Skills and Funds to Educate Schools & Teens) Driving Program(TM). As part of the S.A.F.E.S.T. Driving Program, Jim Russell will donate 10 percent of its Highway Survival Course fee ($495) to participating Bay Area Parent-Student-Teacher Associations (PSTAs) when students from their districts take the course. Plus Jim Russell representatives have developed a short but compelling presentation on the challenges faced by teen drivers, which they can give at Bay Area high schools to students of driving age.

Jim Russell is kicking off the program by partnering with the Marin County PSTA, which includes eight Marin County public high schools. All PSTAs from the greater Bay Area are invited to participate in the S.A.F.E.S.T. Driving Program.

Automobile crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers, according to the National Safety Council, which also reports that drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 are three times more likely to be killed in a traffic accident than people between the ages of 25 and 64.

Jim Russell's Highway Survival Course is a one-day intensive training that teaches the fundamentals of defensive driving and handling emergency situations. Students learn threshold braking, skid control (in the Russell SkidCar), accident avoidance techniques, high-speed handling and control, and basic automotive safety.

"Parents often underestimate how much time and effort is required to develop their teen's driving skills," said Mark Wolocatiuk, chief instructor at Jim Russell. "The good news is that young drivers are a clean slate to whom we can teach good habits and safe driving techniques, giving them a much better chance of being able to handle dangerous situations more safely."

California state law requires that anyone under the age of 18 complete both a driver's education course and driver training before obtaining a provisional license. "Even the best driver training programs typically don't teach teens, who are clearly at higher risk than most drivers, how to handle emergency situations such as how to brake on slippery surfaces or how to avoid an accident," added Wolocatiuk.

"We partnered with Jim Russell because we wanted to offer a way for young drivers to learn those advanced driving skills that build confidence, while instilling in them a greater sense of responsibility to their community," said Anita Chiesa, co-president of the Marin County PSTA. "And because California now ranks 44th in the country in spending per pupil, the donations we'll receive could be used to offset some of the school budget cuts affecting drivers education."

The S.A.F.E.S.T. Driving Program is similar to the popular eScrip program in which individuals can donate to schools and other organizations via local merchants. Greater Bay Area school associations interested in the program should contact Del Leutbecher at the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School at 800-733-0345 to inquire about setting up the program in their area, and visit www.drivesafer.com to learn more about Jim Russell's Highway Survival Course.

About Jim Russell Racing Drivers School

For more than four decades, the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School has been dedicated to teaching true racing techniques to professional drivers and people looking for the experience of a lifetime. In 1990, the school created the Highway Survival Advanced Driving Course to address the need for better defensive driving skills for teens and adults. The school, based in Sonoma, Calif., is located at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point Raceway), known as the best teaching track in the country. More information can be found at www.jimrussellusa.com.