Teaching Teen Drivers Car Control

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.  Teenagers are four times more likely to crash than a driver over age 20. Each day, about ten teenagers between 16- and 19-years old die from motor vehicle injuries. Those startling facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) underscore the problem of teen driving. While there many well-established programs focusing on drunk driving and seatbelt use, there is too little discussion about teaching our least experienced drivers car control.

"Driving School" usually refers to a program that teaches young drivers the rules of the road and how to operate a car. There are also performance schools that can teach drivers how to get the most out of their cars and find the best line on a racetrack. But there is a third type of school that is becoming more and more prevalent - ones focused on teaching teenagers car control and how to avoid an accident.

We have seen first hand the benefits of teen defensive driving schools. In following several teens through a program and hosting our own at our test track, they all found the one-day clinic beneficial having improved their awareness, confidence, and capabilities.

If you have a teen driver, please consider sending them through such a program. It could be the best money you’ll ever spend. And in some cases, the classes are free.

For more on teen driving, see our special section.

Check the websites below for the locations, price and schedule of events.

Bloom School of Driving Dynamix, Inc.
Bob Bondurant School
BMW Performance Driving School
B.R.A.K.E.S.
Driving Concepts
Driver’s Edge
Driving Skills for Life
Glacier Lakes Quattro Club
In Control Crash Prevention
Master Drive
The Mid-Ohio School
NControl Driving School
Proformance Racing School
Street Survival
Teen Road to Safety
Toyota Driving Expectations