It’s a pretty well-known fact that teen drivers are a large part of the traffic accident and traffic accident fatality statistics every year. This is mostly because driver education classes give them the bare minimum of driving skills required to pass licensing exams, but typically don’t really teach them how to operate a motor vehicle safely. That usually has to come with experience. Recognizing this fact, there are a number of Safe Teen Driver programs available to give teens the skills necessary to drive more safely on the nation’s highways. Dodge sponsors one of these programs at various locations around the country.
Bradenton Motorsports Park, Florida Program Still Accepting Applications
If you live near Bradenton, Florida and know a 16-20 driver you think would benefit from an advanced safe driver training course, the Dodge program at the Bradenton Motorsports Park still has a few openings. You need to hurry because the available slots are for the weekend of May 20 and 21. The class is free, but a refundable deposit of $99 is required to hold a spot for your teen driver. An adult driver will have to accompany the teen driver for both days. Parents and guardians are also eligible to participate in this informative program.
Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar) FCA-Global, said, “We are excited to bring the “Mopar Road Ready Powered by Dodge” program to Bradenton for a second year of assisting parents in teaching their teens the skills they need behind the wheel. The Mopar brand loves being fast at the track, but it’s even more important to stay safe on the streets. This is why we continue to support this important initiative to educate and empower teens with the hands-on experience that will help keep them safe on the road.”
What the Program Entails
In order to qualify for the “Mopar Road Ready Powered by Dodge” program for young drivers, you will have to certify that your teen (either licensed or with a learner’s permit) has at least 30 hours behind the wheel driving experience. The program is a collaborative effort between Dodge, the NHRA Motorsports Museum and B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be responsible And Keep Everyone Safe). Both are non-profit organizations known for their mission of letting people know how important it is to drive safely and responsibly.
Teens between the ages of 15 and 19 are eligible for the program as long as they have at least 30 hours of behind the wheel driving experience and either a learner’s permit or a driver’s license. The B.R.A.K.E.S. organization provides instructors who are highly-skilled and motivated to teach the proven curriculum, which includes both hands-on training and classroom learning. To make sure that every participant gets the most out of it that they can, there is a 3:1 student to teacher ratio.
Every teen going through the program will do so with a parent or adult guardian at their side. The “Mopar Road Ready Powered by Dodge” program includes a short session in a classroom, where core driving topics such as proper seat and hand positioning are reviewed, after which basic vehicle dynamics are covered. Life-saving skills such as accident avoidance, wet skid pad vehicle control, wheel drop, distractions and panic stops are all covered in the advanced behind the wheel training that comes after the classroom sessions.
If you’re interested in registering your young driver for this half-day training program, hurry over the website and sign up.
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