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Community Corner

Survive the Drive Conducts Teen Driver Safety Clinic at Grand Prix New York

Spring is here, or at least that’s what the calendar is telling us.

With the introduction of the season comes Distracted Driving Awareness Month, taking place in April. With prom and graduation right around the corner, it couldn't come at a better time. There is a greater need than ever to educate as many teens as possible about the risks of driving while distracted, the importance of keeping their focus on driving, and techniques on how to avoid driver error.

Teens are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal car crash. In the U.S. alone, over 5000 teens die each year due to driver error, and that’s not counting the victims they take with them. Worldwide, over 1.2 billion people die on our public roads. The National Safety Council estimates that almost 25% of all car crashes have involved cell phone use and that drivers using cell phones -- whether handheld or hands-free -- are 4 times as likely to be involved in a crash.

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This is why Survive the Drive and Grand Prix New York recently teamed up with their updated, interactive presentation on Teen Driver Safety and are also asking you to visit National Safety Council Distracted_Driving to get involved and take the pledge to drive cell phone free.

Grand Prix New York has been very active in the community with their commitment to educating young drivers on how to be safe behind the wheel. They sponsor their local high schools' Survive the Drive presentations, host Survive the Drive programs at their facility, and work with local towns to raise awareness of the need for teen safe driving education (beyond what is taught in Drivers Education).

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Earlier this year, Grand Prix New York joined forces withFresh Green Light, an innovative driving school for teens in New York. As the hosting facility for these driving lessons, GPNY offered DMV-mandated driver education classes which included on-track experience to demonstrate the risks of texting while driving.

Survive the Drive understands the pressures high schools are facing, both financially and academically, and they are offering evening programs as well as in-school assemblies and classroom presentations. Most schools are eligible for a sponsored presentation from one of their generous partners. Check to see if your school is eligible. Contact Lori Zaharek @ loriz@survivethedrive.org or call 860-671-1430.

About Survive the Drive: 
Survive the Drive is an independent, not for profit, educational organization that provides risk awareness and safe driving presentations to high schools and community groups. Their program motivates and informs teenage drivers, through comprehensive educational presentations, to understand their own vulnerability and imprint safe driving attitudes, behaviors and techniques. Their goal is to save lives and make communities safer environments in which to live and work.

Grand Prix New York: 

Grand Prix New York Racing (GPNY) is the only large indoor racing, social entertainment, and corporate event venue in the New York City-metro area. Centrally located in the village of Mount Kisco, New York, GPNY is a unique 118,000-square-foot facility that offers a quarter-mile-long, state-of-the-art racetrack for all ages; Spins Bowl, a 19-lane bowling center and special events space, the Art Garage, a visual arts studio for children, teens and adults; the Sim Room, a one-of-a-kind simulated driving experience powered by iRacing, Slot Car Racing, Fuel restaurant and bar, with award-winning catering; arcade, carnival room, banquet facility, conference rooms, and more. GPNY is actively involved in community outreach and fundraising efforts. Since its inception in 2008, GPNY has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities by hosting high-profile fundraising events. For more information about GPNY, visit their website at www.gpny.com.

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