Defensive Driving “Boot Camp” For Teens Coming To MetLife Stadium Aug. 24th

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Aug. 7, 2014 - PRLog -- Did you know the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day has been dubbed the “100 deadliest days” due to motor vehicle crashes…or that August is the deadliest month?

According to the National Safety Council, from Memorial Day to Labor Day in 2012, nearly 1,000 people were killed in the United States in automobile crashes, and more than 550 of those killed were teens.

So what’s a concerned parent to do to keep their teen safe when they get behind the wheel?

Drive Safer, a New Jersey company devoted to improving safety among young drivers, has set out to conquer teen deaths due to driving, and specifically, driver inexperience.  Hosting car control and defensive driving “boot camps” throughout the region, Drive Safer puts teens behind the wheel with certified high performance driving experts as instructors.  With help from local communities throughout New Jersey, and by leveraging the power of social media and word of mouth, Drive Safer hopes to train as many teens as possible.

On August 24th, Drive Safer will host their Boot Camp at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. As a state-approved defensive driving course, participants will earn discounts off their car insurance for three years (percentages vary with the insurer) and can expunge two points from their record.

“Understanding the rules of the road is critical, but so is safely and properly controlling your vehicle.  These skills can only be learned through experience,” says Mike Kellenyi, a Drive Safer instructor and founder of People Against Distracted Driving (PADD).  “Our goal is to give young drivers the experience they need to avoid becoming another tragic statistic.”

Kellenyi has a vested interest. In 2012, his 18-year-old daughter Nikki was killed when the Dodge Neon in which she was a backseat passenger was struck by another vehicle that had run two stop signs.

Drive Safer’s six-hour course is comprised of classroom instruction and hands-on driving experience.  The behind-the-wheel instruction covers essential car control skills, panic braking, hazard avoidance, safe following distances, and skid control/recovery, among other skills.  The classroom portion includes everything from statistics and the danger of distracted driving, to vehicle control and using peripheral vision.

“The answer to saving the lives of young drivers from car vehicle crashes is to help them gain experience.  We put them in simulated dangerous conditions and help them learn and practice what to do when things don’t go as planned,” says Jason Friedman, Drive Safer’s CEO.  “Unfortunately, teens usually get this type of experience through on-the-job training, when they’re on their own and find themselves in a bad spot. Once they finish panicking, if there’s time left to react, they have to guess at what to do.  That’s insane!”

The Drive Safer course begins at 9 a.m. on August 24.  The course is open to any licensed or permit driver, and a parent or guardian must attend if the student is under 18.  Parents are welcome to participate in the classroom instruction and are encouraged to attend the course as well. The fee is $279. To learn more and register, visit http://www.drivesafer.com or call (201) 485-7792.

About Drive Safer

Drive Safer provides the premier car control and defensive driving courses in the US, preparing students to control their vehicles in the face of real-world distractions and dangers that take thousands of lives annually. Drive Safer’s certified high performance driving instructors provide hands-on training ensuring that students know how to handle and avoid hazardous behind the wheel situations. Drive Safer also partners with high schools to provide in-classroom workshops and presentations and has a fundraising program donating a percentage of registration fees back to partner schools.

For more information on Drive Safer, including courses, dates, locations and fundraising programs, please visit http://www.drivesafer.com.