Something to think about for 2012...

[Clemsons2k]

(11-21-2011 07:04 AM)Theodore Wrote:  

(11-21-2011 12:24 AM)Clemsons2k Wrote:  I think this would be a fantastic idea. The main problem I see though is procuring a lot in Clemson. If parking services already doesn't care for our "tire marks" left after an autocross, then they will really not be pleased with those left from one of these events. Especially from a skidpad.

But if we can make it happen I am more than happy to help out

Good thoughts Luke. Maybe we can do a AX School in spring. That would be great.

You are right Ryan... parking services might not be happy about it... but this is not something we would present to them. This is something we would present to the university. The benefit far out weighs a few marks on stripes. That is why many larger churches are offering their parking lots free of charge for this program.

I'm glad to see many of you step and offer help. It's a day of your life you will not regret and is something that SHOULD be a part of any car club... and a part of Clemson University offerings. 6000 deaths per year last few years equals 15 per day in the US... it is inevitable if it has not happened to someone you know, it will.

Teenage drivers accounted for some of the following CDC statistics:

- almost four-hundred thousand teenagers required medical attention from their injuries sustained in a car collision.
- teenage drivers are four times more likely to experience a motor vehicle collision than their older driving counterparts are.
- forty percent of deaths for persons aged 15 to 20 stem from automobile collisions.
- teen drivers are responsible for twelve percent of all road-related deaths, yet only consist of less than ten percent of the population as a whole.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not say teen drivers are all bad drivers...I AM saying we as a nation are failing at giving them proper training.

Trust me I completely understand the thought process behind it. I just know that the new P.S. regime has proved to be completely ignorant and unwilling to take other viewpoints into consideration. I think these types of events should be mandated for teens to take part in before getting their license. The statistics prove that our current system isn't working. But thats another conversation all together

[alesley]

That was my child that died, and I can assure you he had taken every training class required plus additional instruction. How offensive will your posting be when it is your child next? I had no control over what he did when I wasn't with him, and neither will you.

[Theodore]

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/greenvi...=154705176

Mrs. Cunningham,

I am so sorry for your loss. I realize nothing anyone can do will reverse what happened and no one on this forum has any wish to cause you further pain. What we CAN do is encourage parents and young people to take DEFENSIVE driving courses such as the Teen Street Survival training which has a proven history of success. There are hundreds of these schools that have been taught over the last few years and letters from parents and youths make it clear... this works. http://streetsurvival.org/

You made two VERY good points :
1. He met all "requirements" ... and that clearly was not enough. There is no doubt, you did all you could do.
2. No parent can control a young driver when they are not present. That is why it is so important to have solid training and instruction in dealing with an out of control car. So they are prepared and know what to do. Due to liability and insurance, High School Driver's Education programs are very limited in what they can teach and this extra step can make a difference.

Two of the vitally important - key elements taught in these Street Survival schools all over America are : correcting an out of control car and the importance of wearing safety belts. Young drivers receiving hands on instruction in their daily driven car in these areas does make a difference. Many insurance companies are reducing rates for teen drivers because they see, this does help and improve their ability to operate a vehicle safely.

We do plan to have several more of these schools held locally and I hope you will support our efforts to keep young people safe. I would be glad to speak with you further if you wish. Thank you. Again, sorry for any offense and please know our efforts are to keep other parents from experiencing this kind of tragedy.
Ted

[SpForces]

Mike W. and I have actually been talking about this as an idea for the club for a while. I think it is one of the best additions we could make to our event list. It is a wonderful way to give to the community and get them involved at the same time. While no training can stop all accidents and driving mistakes, good training can give drivers the skills to get out of bad situation. Good in-depth defensive driving is something that should be a requirement to drive a car. Obviously we are not to that point yet, but it is absolutely absurd for it to not be available for those who want to have it.

[SpForces]

As Ted said very well, no one here is trying to stab at the drivers who make these mistakes. The death a child is a loss that is beyond what the majority of us can even imagine and we are terribly sorry for the loss of this young life. No one wants teens to die early deaths because of mistakes they make in cars. The fact of the matter is that no one can control what another person does when they sit down in an automobile. However, the actions that people, especially novice drivers, take while driving can be influenced through training. Good training is the biggest influence that a parent can have over their child’s safety behind the wheel without physically controlling the car or being in it. That being said, a safe closed course training program provides an opportunity you can never get without great risk on the road. It is an opportunity to learn what happens when you turn the steering wheel harder than you ever have or when you brake hard while coming around a corner. These are things every driver should know prior to the first time they HAVE TO do it. So many drivers don’t have any idea how actions they take in an emergency situation are going cause their vehicle to respond. That chilling moment when a teenage boy realizes he entered a corner too fast for the first time is not when most parents want their child trying to figure it out. Even if a teen is a cautious driver and never pushes the limits they are exposed to very similar risks. When a child is coming home from school and another driver pulls out in front of them, that is not the time to learn how a car responds to extreme inputs.


The point here is that people make mistakes, drivers make mistakes. The things that happen in the five seconds after that mistake are often hugely dependent on the level of understanding and experience that the driver(s) has. If we were to introduce these types of events we could provide driving experience that could save a life.


Mrs. Cunningham,

All of us here are sorry for your loss. We are exploring the possibility of hosting an event which we feel could help curb accidents like your son’s. We do not mean to offend you or anyone else in your situation. There is an undeniable fact in your son’s incident that is heart-breaking to us and to nearly everyone. That is that it did not have to happen. Kids will be kids, but there is a studied, documented, and proven difference between kids and trained experienced kids when it comes to driving. It is not possible for a driver of any age to have too much experience at handling a car during an emergency. I hope you can see what we are saying for our intentions and not be hurt by this. Again we are so sorry for your family’s loss and we would all love to see a day where accidents like your sons don’t occur.