Advance Auto Parts Expands Driver Education Program; “Advance Your Knowledge” Helps Teach about Vehicle Maintenance and Safety

ROANOKE, Va.--Advance Auto Parts , a leading automotive retailer of parts, batteries, accessories and maintenance items is excited to announce the expansion of its Driver Education Teacher Program, “Advance Your Knowledge,” which is used as a tool for driver education teachers in 15 states. As of Spring 2009, the program had reached an estimated one million students, helping to increase their awareness about the connection between vehicle maintenance and driving safety.

The program is now being used by teachers in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. “Advance Your Knowledge” is free to all state affiliated drivers education programs with replenishment support available via a dedicated program Web site: www.drivers.advanceautoparts.com.

“Today’s vehicles are complex. Our multimedia kit is designed to help instructors help their students understand vehicle basics, especially as it relates to their personal driving safety,” says Bryan Gregory, director of consumer education for Advance Auto Parts. “Our commitment is to help teachers impart vehicle maintenance and safety information that is most relevant to young drivers, and to encourage parents to discuss vehicle maintenance with their new driver. That is why we developed this program.”

Feedback about the program has been extremely positive from both teachers and students. Students said that the kit made learning about their vehicles a lot more enjoyable and took some of the fear out of flat tires and oil changes. Teachers also claimed that the multimedia kit’s guidelines and tools made it easier to teach, both because it was educational and interactive for the students.

"The Advance Auto Parts 'Advance Your Knowledge' program is presented in a concise and interesting format that holds the attention of the students in my driver education classes,” stated Gary Rex Scott, Kansas Driver Safety Education Association Executive Director. “I use the program when we discuss the care and maintenance of vehicles. It provides basic car maintenance in a simple and useable manner that students are able to comprehend and retain for later use. The students in my classes enjoy the layman's terminology used in the video.”

The complete “Advance Your Knowledge” tool kit includes a DVD loaded with short how-to videos, 29 project brochures, and online replenishment information for instructors. “We have to make it easy to use and easy to replenish for today’s busy teachers. In many states, classroom time is very limited, so we have engineered a solution to work in concert with teachers’ instructional needs,” Gregory adds.

“The Advance Auto Parts driver education kit has enhanced instruction on vehicle maintenance for driver education programs throughout Virginia,” stated Janet Ragland, driver education specialist at the Virginia Department of Education. “Advance continues to support driver education programs in Virginia through updated materials and staff development."

Advance Auto Parts’ industry leading commitment to educate people about vehicle care is helping young drivers understand the gap between undone maintenance and driving safety, while taking the mystery out of today’s vehicles. Whether you’re a drivers ed teacher, or a do-it-yourselfer in need of some driveway maintenance, ask an Advance Auto Parts Team Member for some advice, or visit www.AdvanceAutoParts.com, where you can find free pod-casts, video know-how clinics and much more information that could potentially save you a trip to the auto shop.

About Advance Auto Parts

Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets As January 3, 2009, the Company operated 3,368 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Advance Auto Parts supports a variety of non-profit organizations at the corporate and local levels and encourages its Team Members to become actively involved in various community-based charitable organizations. Nationally, Advance Auto Parts is a strong supporter of United Way and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Since 1994, Advance Auto Parts has raised more than $16 million for JDRF and is one of that organization’s largest corporate supporters.

Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts and accessories can be found on the Company’s web site at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com.