Driver’s Edge success cited
Friday, March 12, 2004 | 8:22 a.m.
A driving program that teaches teens how to get through skidding on wet roads and other road skills is gearing up for another season with a sense of accomplishment.
The Las Vegas-based Driver's Edge program starts another year of classes Saturday, and the program's founder says they now have evidence the program works.
Based on follow-up surveys of 2,000 Las Vegas teens who have gone through the program since it began in June 2002, Driver's Edge founder Jeff Payne said the program's alumni average 8.24 collisions annually per 100 drivers.
That compares with a survey of 1,000 teens who have not gone through the program that showed those teen drivers averaged 16.46 collisions annually per 100 drivers, Payne said.
All of the teens surveyed said the program gave them more respect for driving, 80 percent said the program helped them avoid an accident on the highway, and 60 percent of those who had an accident said what they learned in the program kept their accidents from being worse, Payne said.
"It's definitely working. We've got thousands of e-mails and letters from kids saying, 'Yes, thank you, thank you, thank you,' " Payne said.
About 6,000 teens across the country have been through the program, including 2,000 from the Las Vegas area. The four-hour program includes classroom time and a skidding exercise done locally on watered-down pavement at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The program is taught by former race-car drivers, such as Payne.
Payne said he started the program because he was frustrated hearing that wet-weather accidents involving teens were often blamed on the teens' reckless driving. But Payne thinks the problem really is that teens, like other drivers, are never taught how to drive in difficult conditions.
"None of us are taught how to drive. We're just taught how to pass a test," Payne said, adding that he also hoped to "erase the video game mentality" that some younger drivers have when they are on the road.
The program is offered for free to teens with a learner's permit or license. This year classes will be offered in Las Vegas on several dates, including Saturday, March 27 and 28, May 1 and 2, June 12 and 13, Sept. 18 and 19, Oct. 16 and 17, and Dec. 4 and 5.
The program will be offered in Reno July 8-11.
To register for the program visit the program's website at driversedge.org or call Driver's Edge at 896-6482.
Payne said he hopes 4,000 teens will go through the program this year.
Driver's Edge costs more than $200,000 a year to put on, Payne said.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Brett Rogers says he’s ready to shock Fedor Emelianenko
- Jury convicts man in assault on 13-year-old girl
- Second man dies while being restrained by Metro officers
- MGM Mirage loses $750M as CityCenter’s value drops
- Appeals court sides with Harrah’s, Pinnacle in Louisiana case
- Dina Titus backing House health care plan after changes
- Control Board plans special meeting on Aria gaming license
- Ex-lawyer cited by police after sting at his office
- City OKs plan to study downtown arena, entertainment district
- Stars flood Mandalay Bay for Latin Grammy Awards show
Blogs
Elsewhere
Mono puts date for Lesnar title defense in question
The Kats Report
Got a question for Wayne Newton? Or a favorite story? Send it over (2 Comments)
Now and Then
Rollie's team beats Isiah's team (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
Latin Grammy Gift Lounge is a wealth of riches for the rich and talented
Now or Never
Gearing up for a final push
Politics: The Early Line
Berkley, Titus join Biden at dinner for Greek Orthodox Church leader (1 Comment)
Now and Then
101 years and counting ... (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 6 Fri
- 7 Sat
- 8 Sun
- 9 Mon
- 10 Tue
-
Latin Grammy Awards at Mandalay Bay Events Center
Mandalay Bay Events Center | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Las Vegas Wranglers vs. Bakersfield Condors
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
LeAnn Rimes at Treasure Island
Treasure Island Theatre
-
Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers at Boulder Station
The Railhead | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Dennis Blair at the V Theater
V Theatre inside Miracle Mile Shops
-
Stealing Angels at The South Point Showroom
South Point Showroom
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












