CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Illinois teen
drivers, ages 16 – 20, were at the wheel during 58,392 accidents in
2010, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. In an
effort to reduce the number of teen related crashes and to educate
teens and parents about the dangers of distracted driving, Toyota
is hosting its free advanced driving skills program, Toyota Driving
Expectations, for newly licensed or permitted teens and their
parents at Soldier Field in Chicago,
Ill., October 20-21.
Interested participants must have a driver's license or learner's
permit and pre-register online at
www.toyotadrivingexpectations.com.
Toyota established the free safe teen driving program in 2004 to
supplement standard driving education courses with real-time
opportunities to learn about defensive driving, the impact of
distractions, and safe habits. The "On the Road" 2.5-hour
course involves both driving time and classroom discussions, and is
unique for requiring the participation of a parent or guardian to
support coaching within the family so they can continue to act as
role models and teachers at home. Nearly 20,000 teens and
parents have participated in the "On the Road" Toyota Driving
Expectations program, which was among the first to understand the
importance of and include parents in safe driving programs for teen
drivers.
Taught by professional drivers, the curriculum for Toyota
Driving Expectations was developed in partnership with multiple
organizations committed to safe driving, including the National
Safety Council and the Defensive Driving Academy in California. The program's curriculum is
designed for teens and parents alike to:
- Learn defensive driving skills and crash avoidance techniques,
such as best practices for focusing on the road
- Identify and respond to the potentially dangerous driving
situations that they encounter daily
- Experience firsthand the dangers of distracted driving and
understand the relationship between distraction and reaction
time
- Understand vehicle dynamics and safety features, including how
to engage an anti-lock braking system
Building upon the eight-year success of its behind-the-wheel
safety workshops, Toyota has expanded Toyota Driving Expectations
offering the following road safety programs in select cities:
- In Dealerships: A free interactive Teen Driver
Safety Clinic that provides pre-drivers and new drivers and their
parents with car care basics to prepare for the road ahead.
- In High Schools: An assembly with NHRA Pro Stock
Race Driver Erica Enders encourages teens to stay focused on
achieving their personal goals while safely navigating the road
ahead. A simulator demonstrates dangers of distracted driving.
- On the Web: In partnership with Discovery
Education, www.toyotateendriver.com is a comprehensive website
designed to help teens avoid distractions, and offers tools,
resources and competitions for educators, teens and parents.
Committed to road safety, Toyota is conducting research to
evaluate the effectiveness of an electronic coaching and monitoring
system for newly licensed teenage drivers to help reduce unsafe
driving behaviors. The research is being conducted by
Toyota's Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC), which is
based in Michigan. Launched
in January 2011, the CSRC's mission
is to serve as a catalyst for the advancement of auto safety
involving the vehicle, driver and traffic environment.
Quote
"The ultimate goal of the Toyota Driving Expectations
program is for teens to develop responsible daily driving habits
and gain the skills to handle challenging situations behind the
wheel."
- Michael Rouse, Toyota's vice
president of diversity, philanthropy and community affairs
Prior to the Chicago event,
Toyota Driving Expectations was held in Cleveland, Tenn., Georgetown, Ky. and Philadelphia, Pa.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently
operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota directly employs over
30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at
more than $18 billion, including
sales and manufacturing operations, research and development,
financial services and design.
Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the
communities where it does business and believes in supporting
programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports
numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education,
the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed over
half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs in the
U.S.
For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving
communities nationwide, visit
http://www.toyota.com/philanthropy.
About National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by
preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes, communities and
on the roads, through leadership, research, education and
advocacy.
SOURCE Toyota