Motor vehicle collisions kill more teens every year than drugs, guns and violent crimes combined, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Teen drivers are also four times more likely to be in a fatal crash than older drivers, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute. In 2005, there were 1,270 motor vehicle- related fatalities in the state of Tennessee. Of those fatalities, 277 (or about 22 percent) involved young drivers aged 16 to 24. Driver’s Edge, with its innovative and potentially life-saving instructional program, will make its fifth visit to Tennessee to help tackle this problem. On June 9 and 10 Nashville-area teens can benefit from this non-profit organization’s free program.

Driver's Edge includes the following elements:

• Classroom and behind-the-wheel defensive driving instruction on skid control, evasive lane change maneuvers, anti-lock braking skills and panic-braking techniques, plus written tests designed to test knowledge both before and after students are behind the wheel
• Local law enforcement interaction, including impaired driving awareness and seat belt safety
• Proper car maintenance session based on Firestone Complete Auto Care’s Car Care Academies
  

WHAT:      Driver’s Edge provides real-life training for young drivers in an effort to combat the ever-increasing
                 statistics regarding teen auto collisions and driving fatalities. This exciting half-day program
                 presented with an “MTV” flavor includes classroom and behind-the-wheel training for young
                 drivers. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend as well.

WHEN:      Saturday, June 9 Sunday, June 10
                 Session One: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
                 Session Two: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

WHERE:    Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy
                 3025 Lebanon Road
                 Nashville, Tennessee 37214

WHO:        Jeff Payne, Driver’s Edge founder, Steven Tepper, Driver’s Edge Chief Operating Officer,
                 and the Edge team of professional racecar drivers and performance driving instructors.
                 Members of the media are invited to test their skills behind the wheel.

TO ATTEND: Young drivers, aged 15 to 21, possessing a valid learner’s permit or driver's license, must register in advance at www.driversedge.org. Each day, a total of 200 young drivers (plus their parents) have the opportunity to attend.

While the value of a comparable program is $450 per person, there is NO CHARGE for young drivers to attend Driver’s Edge, thanks to private charitable donations and the generous support of community-minded partners such as Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (the “presenting partner” of the Driver’s Edge National Tour), BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC, the CarMax Foundation and the IndyCar Series.

CONTACTS:

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.