The problem is often bemoaned: the typical new driver is a lousy driver. Whether or not the fault lies with the American drivers' education system, the fact is that teens cause 2.5 million automobile accidents per year.
The Street Survival School program sought to do something about it. Street Survival does what no other driving school has ever attempted to do for the public. We allow teens to learn how to drive in an emergency situation before it occurs. We put students in their own cars with experienced instructors, on closed courses, and teach them to avoid accidents and possibly save lives.
The Lone Star Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America will be again be hosting a Street Survivaltm School on October 14th, 2006 at the Texas Motor Speedway Bus Lot in Fort Worth, TX. The Lone Star Chapter of the BMWCCA serves the entire D/FW Metroplex... The cost is $60 per participant, and registration is open to all 16-21 year-old, licensed drivers no matter what kind of car, truck, or SUV they drive!
The primary emphasis of the Street Survival School is a "hands-on" driving experience in real-world situations. Participants use their own car to learn about its handling limits and how the car can be controlled. They will learn how the car sounds and feels as the limits of adhesion are approached and exceeded. Ultimately, participants will learn to drive the car under control in emergency or other "less than ideal" situations.
The program begins with a general explanation of the day's activities, safety issues, and how the in-car activities will be conducted. Classroom instruction will include a definition of terms to be used throughout the day, then two sections called "Getting ready for trouble" and "Reacting to trouble". There will be a discussion of each in-car exercise so that you understand what the exercise is designed to teach and how best to perform it. Questions are encouraged. Teaching materials include visual aids and exercise descriptions with drawings for clarification. Classroom work will be enhanced by driving the exercises with an in-car coach and practicing the concepts of car control.
The exercise elements are laid out with safety buffer zones around them to provide a large margin of error, keeping participants out of trouble. The exercise area is isolated to preclude access by other than school participants. The pavement in the exercise area is wet down to minimize tire adhesion. This condition allows participants to experience the vehicle's responses to driver inputs at much lower speeds than in the dry.
The Street Survival safe teen driving program was launched in April 2002 by the BMW Car Club of America Foundation, a 501c3 non-for profit organization. Street Survivaltm is built upon the premise that 'safe driving is learned by doing.' From the outset, Street Survival has always been "hands on" and designed to go beyond the typical high school driver's education program. The program teaches students to avoid accidents by thinking and looking ahead. Street Survival is unique in that it offers students instruction in their own cars so that they learn the limitations of their 'daily drivers.'
For event updates and to sign-up, please visit the BMWCCA Lone Star Chapter website at
http://www.lscbmwcca.org, or you can visit the event web-page directly at
http://www.streetsurvival.org for more information...
http://www.streetsurvival.org/street...sp?schoolID=30 is the link right to our school!
Feel free to email or PM with any questions - I'm the committee chair for this year's event!
