Practicing with your new driver.
by Steve Mochel on 09/29/12
But how and what should we be practicing?
There's an app for that.
State Farm Insurance has created a really great program called Steer Clear for new teen drivers and their parents. The coolest feature of this program is the Steer Clear app that they have developed for both iPhones and Android phones. It has 20 helpful practice drive scenarios, a timer to keep track of driving, and a number of other features. And the best part is that it's free!
Here are a few screenshots.
If you end up using Steer Clear with your new driver, I'd love to know what you think about it!
Teen Drivers with ADD
by Steve Mochel on 06/01/12
NBC Nightly News spent a day at Fresh Green Light recently while one of our students, Annie, went through her lessons both in-car with an instructor and in our state-of-the-art Driving Simulators.
Annie is 17 and has ADHD. She's also a great example of how both teens and parents can partner to take on this challenge together. Here's her story.
It took less than 2 seconds...
by Steve Mochel on 05/17/12
It took less than 2 seconds from the last moment her finger touched the screen of her iPhone to the time the first 911 call was made.
She never saw him. There were no signs of braking.
It took less than 2 seconds for a new, 16 year-old driver to kill a man by veering slightly to the right while trying to access the New Canaan High School website on her iPhone.
Two families are totally shattered. And it took less than 2 seconds.
This could be you or me. This could be my son or your daughter. This could be your brother or my sister. This could be anybody we know and love.
Please share this story with every driver you know and implore them to make the personal commitment to put their phone away and out of reach while they drive.
It took less than 2 seconds.
As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, several local High Schools have asked me to come in and speak to their students about texting and driving. I'm always grateful that the schools recognize distracted driving as the real danger that it is to our young drivers.
As part of my presentation, I always show this incredibly powerful documentary film made by AT&T that tells the story of 4 teenagers and how their lives have been permanently changed by texting and driving.
If you haven't seen it, please take 10 minutes and watch this with anyone in your home who is driving or learning to drive. And then please share it with your friends and family who have young drivers.
