Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE), in partnership with Clemson University’s Automotive Safety Research Institute (ASRI) announced the launch of its national Safe Driving Program. The program is intended to prevent or reduce highway crashes by high-risk adolescent and young adult participants by measurably improving driver skills, attitudes, knowledge and behavior. The research-based Safe Driving Program, initially designed for high-risk drivers aged 16 to 25, will teach safe driving skills and safety education to participants through a classroom setting and on-track experiences by placing students in hazardous driving situations in a controlled and safe environment. Professional driving instructors will coach the students through corrective responses during each stage of the safe driving modules. RPDE and Clemson will develop a unique safe driving program based on best practices for both classroom instruction and on-track laboratory experiences targeting the acquisition of safe driving skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Kyle Petty, a long-time advocate of driver safety for young adults, will serve as the spokesman for this initiative, and Kim Alexander, executive director of ASRI, will lead the research team and serve as Clemson’s spokesperson. The safe driving programs, which start at $329 per person, will be held in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Los Angeles and Orlando initially and are expected to expand to more markets in the future. Young drivers can reserve their place in the Safe Driving Program by calling 1-800-BE-PETTY. For more information, call 1-800-BE-PETTY or visit www.1800bepetty.com. For more information on the Richard Petty Driving Experience/Clemson University Automotive Safety Research Institute collaboration, please visit clemson.edu/autoresearch/ASRI.(PR)(3-18-2007)
