More and more efforts are being made to accommodate teen drivers in learning how best to maneuver different driving scenarios. One such program, sponsored in part by Tirerack.com, Tire Rack Street Survival is a “hands-on” driving experience in real-world situations! Participants may use their own car to learn about its handling limits and to control it.

At Tire Rack Street Survival classes, students will become more observant of the traffic situation they find themselves in. They will learn to look far enough ahead to anticipate unwise actions of other drivers. As the students master the application of physics to drive their cars, they will make fewer unwise driving actions themselves. They will understand why they should always wear their own seat-belts, and why they should insist that their passengers wear seat-belts, too!

Tire Rack offers a one-day class, with most classes starting early in the morning and ending late in the afternoon (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). The cost of the course is $75 per person and the minimum and maximum age a student can be to participate in a Tire Rack Street Survival school are ages 15 to 21 years. Students must have either a license or permit.

The requirements of “permitted students include the following:

*If the permit requires a licensed driver in the car at all times.

*If a parent is required to be in the car in addition to this, then this student will not be allowed as it would require a passenger in the back seat of the car and that is considered too hazardous for the exercises in the school, and some times it is physically impossible.

*Drivers must be a minimum of 15 years old (regardless of the minimum age for the state issuing the permit) and have had a permit for a minimum of ½ the time required by the state holding jurisdiction over that permit, (not the state that the school is located in) i.e. if the permit must be held for 6 months before the driver can take their driving test, then the student must have had the permit a minimum of 3 months. We recommend that they have driven at least 25 hours before coming to the class.

Students will need to provide their own vehicle, or the one that they most frequently drive on a daily basis. If siblings are attending an event together and the car they both drive on a daily basis is the same, most certainly. SUVs, SAVs, Trucks, Jeep-type vehicles, Minivans and other High Center of Gravity vehicles (HCG’s) will need to be verified before being allowed to participate. Older HCG’s without electronic stability control (not just the electronic traction control) will not be accepted.

According to the Tire Rack Street Survival crew, these vehicles can prove to be poor choices for first-time drivers, especially small SUVs and trucks. Early models without traction and/or stability control have statistically proven to be unfortunate choices. These vehicles tend to be light in the rear end and thus have a tendency to “fishtail” during panic stops or when the road is slick. Even with four-wheel drive, pickups and SUVs are less stable, take longer to stop, and are generally more dangerous for a new driver. Most are top heavy and can tip or roll over under severe maneuvers. Less-experienced drivers may be more likely to use abrupt steering motions, which can cause rollovers. In addition, some older model SUVs and trucks are not rated the way cars are rated. These vehicles are not required to meet the same crash standards as a passenger car.

Tire Rack’s Street Survival classes’ goal is to conduct the safest and most rewarding experience for teen drivers. Approved HCG Vehicles with electronic stability control may still be limited with respect to some of the exercises in which they are allowed to participate based on local venue conditions.

As a sponsor of the Tire Rack Street Survival Classes, BMW Car Club of America Foundation does not require that students drive a BMW. While the program cannot require that parents attend the class, it is strongly suggest that they do so. Tire Rack encourages parents to sit in the classroom sessions and listen to the presentations. There are things that parents can learn from experiencing the classes with their teen driver.

Some of the other sponsors for Tire Rack’s Street Survival Classes include the Sports Car Club of America Foundation, Michelin, ZF Lemforder, and State Farm Mid-Atlantic Rregion.

The Street Survival staff also believes that the importance of driving education and seriousness of this issue is reinforced when new teen drivers see their parents taking an active interest in what they are doing.

Helmets are required at the schools. All exercises are low-speed events and coaches are in the student’s car at all times during these exercises. It is suggested that parents check with their auto insurance provider to determine whether/not classes for your teen may be covered or make him/her eligible for a reduced rate. Many auto insurance companies do recognize Tire Rack Street Survival as an educational program that can count towards premium discounts.

For more information on Tire Rack’s Street Survival School, consult their website at www.streetsurvival.org. The cost is $75 per student and refunds will be issued for cancellations up to the Thursday before the event. You must contact the school registrar and/or the BMW CCA Foundation National Office no later than 5 PM EST on the Thursday before the scheduled school. Refunds will not be issued for cancellations after Thursday or for no shows.

School locations can be found online at www.streetsurvival.org.