Program amps up teens’ behind-the-wheel experience

By Ashley Livingston

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 | midnight

The group of teens looked on nervously as tires screeched and the smell of burnt rubber filled the air.

A safe distance away, a car full of their peers slid atop a water-soaked area of the parking lot doing a doughnut or two before fishtailing to a shaky stop.

As participants in Driver's Edge, an innovative free program that aims to pick up where the traditional drivers education class leaves off, the group of about 80 teens was at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last Saturday to get first-hand experience handling emergency situations on the road.

"What we're trying to do is prove teens aren't reckless and out of control if you take time to show them what to do," said Jeff Payne, a professional race car driver and program founder.

Payne, a Green Valley resident, said he founded the Las Vegas-based program in 2002 out of sheer frustration at the bad rap given to teen drivers. He said he has since had 53,000 students and parents attend the program nationally and 20,000 statewide.

The program, which is funded by donations, grants and sponsorships, is provided free to students ages 15 to 21.

The main educational components of Driver's Edge are taught by professional drivers and include hands-on experience handling antilock brakes, evasive lane change maneuvers and skidding.

Additionally, during the local classes, Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Kevin Honea teaches a law-related portion of the program.

Honea told the teens, including his 16-year-old son, that they are under the influence of anything that takes their attention away from the road, equating taking a cell phone call while driving drunk.

While Honea discussed driving with the group of teens, parent and Henderson resident Kevin Rock talked about why he has brought all of his four children to the program.

"In typical drivers ed they don't teach you behind-the-wheel experience," he said.

He said the Driver's Edge program puts the teens in learning situations that may one day save their lives.

As the daughter of Summerlin parent Diana Bright climbed behind the wheel of one of the vehicles in the skid exercise, Bright said she hoped her daughter would stop being so fearful when driving.

"I hope the course will give her more confidence and teach her not to be afraid when she's behind the wheel," she said.

As her turn to take the wheel in the skid exercise approached, Green Valley High School student Jenna Reddick let out a nervous laugh.

"I'm going to roll and we're all going to die," she said despite assurances that it was next to impossible to roll any of the four-door sedans used for the exercise.

After running the course and being counseled that they need to keep their eyes where they want to go when in a skid situation, Jenna and her friend Michelle Harnik, a Coronado High School student, emerged from the vehicle.

"I'm a little shaken up. It was fun though," 15-year-old Harnik said.

During the evasive lane change and antilock brake module, Silverado residents and parents Elizabeth and Doug Bennett waited as their 15-year-old son prepared to test his driving skills.

"I want him to have as much experience and training as possible from any place I can get it," Elizabeth Bennett said.

There are similar drivers education programs in Las Vegas that offer behind the wheel training such as The Advanced Interactive Driver Education program, which charges $150-$175 per program, and A-1 Driving Schools, which charges $330 for six hours of training that includes behind-the-wheel instruction.

Payne said the value of his free program would be about $450.

Payne calls his program a wake up call.

"It's one thing to sit in class and be told what something is but another thing to get to experience it," he said. "With the proper education, you could save thousands of lives."

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or [email protected].