Ford Driving Skills for Life comes to Seattle

Even if the only damage is to the vehicles involved, getting into a car accident is easily one of the scariest things that can happen in a person’s life. I have only been in one (and it could have been a whole lot worse than the fender bender it ended up being) but it was seriously rattling. Whether they are physical, financial or simply just the inconveniences of being without a car for an extended period of time, the effects of a car accident can often be long-lasting.

I grew up in California and did not get my license until after I was 18 so I was not required to complete a driver’s education or driver’s training course. Consequently, for the first year or two, my driving skills were, well, let's just say subpar. Although, if you think about it, that really didn’t make me all that much different than most of my fellow teenagers. 

In recent years, scores of public service announcement ranging from the comedic to the grim have engrained into the public consciousness the fact that car crashes are the leading cause of death and injury in teens. Unfortunately, there always seems to be yet another headline.

While we could completely nip these statistics in the bud by raising the driving age to 20, I’m afraid that wouldn’t be inordinately popular. The best thing we can do to tackle this problem is to better educate teens about driving safety; which is what makes events like Ford Driving Skills for Life such an asset.

Put on in conjunction with the national Governors Highway Safety Commission and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, this free event is set for Wednesday, Aug. 18, and Thursday, Aug. 19, at Emerald Downs race track. Open to all teens (15-19) with a driver’s license or a learner’s permit, there will be two 4-hour sessions available each day. Each session will teach teens how to better their skills in the four areas that are involved in the majority of teen crashes: speed management, space management, vehicle handling and hazard recognition.

Space is limited to 100 students per session, so the earlier you register, the better. 

Oh, and parents are also encouraged to join in and maybe learn a thing or too, as well.

~ Darius Schwarz, Public Affairs Intern