Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Alternative driving school gives teen drivers a second chance at life It’s a parent’s worst nightmare, hearing that their child has been involved in an automobile accident. It is even more of a nightmare to know that as a parent, there is something you could have done to prevent it. These tragedies are happening more and more often. In fact, auto accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers. More than 62 percent of all auto fatalities involve teenagers.Many of these accidents could have been prevented, which is why parents are turning to Xtreme Measures, an alternative to traditional driver’s education. Xtreme Measures has been committed to saving teen lives in metro Atlanta for more than four years and can claim more than 1500 graduates and at least three lives saved. Now the organization is hoping to step up its efforts, thanks to a new partnership with Atlanta Motor Speedway and Atlanta retailer Butler Tire. The partnership will speed expansion of the program in Atlanta and allow a new program to start up in Charlotte, N.C. “I am convinced kids don’t go out and drive with the intention of killing themselves or others,” said Xtreme Measures founder Carl Kircher. “They just don’t have the accident recognition skills in place to modify whatever behavior it is that is leading them to the edge of an accident.” Xtreme Measures, a non-profit organization, is an intensive two-day program of classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. Teens spend more than 10 hours behind the wheel of their own vehicles during the weekend-long instruction, where they practice exercises such as wet pavement spinouts, two-wheels off, proper following distance, proper vision techniques and emergency braking. But more importantly, they learn these warning signs of impending tragedy and how to make a more mature decision in reacting to whatever is going on in a positive manner. “To see it firsthand, the impact that Xtreme measures has on these kids … it’s a quality program, something every teenage driver should have the opportunity to experience,” said Ed Clark, president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. “They’ll learn skills here in two days that will stay with them their entire lives.” Xtreme Measures is a five year-old 501-c-3 nonprofit teen driving school held every other month in the parking lots of Atlanta Motor Speedway. For more information, visit www.xtrememeasures.org. Ê