KumhoTires

Armed with the tools and knowledge to keep them safer when they grab the car keys and get behind the wheel, a record number of teen drivers, more than 1,600, throughout the Mid-West and northeast portions of the United States received an intensive, one-day in-the-driver's-seat course on exactly what it takes to be a safe and defensive driver. Offered for free in 14 cities through the course of three months this summer, professional instructors from the Mid-Ohio School sat inside the car with the teen drivers as these young drivers maneuvered their way through the obstacle course filled with road cones and hazards such as wet pavement and faux animals that darted in front of them. The event was put on in conjunction with Kumho Tires and KeyBank in an effort to help the next generation of drivers stay focused on the road every time they get behind the wheel, and to give them practice in what to do in an emergency driving situation such as making a sudden lane change or breaking on a wet or icy road. The Key to Safe Teen Driving program will resume in the summer of 2013. For more information on when upcoming courses will be scheduled, visit www.KeytoSafeTeenDriving.com.

"The Key to Safe Teen Driving program is so important to us at Kumho Tires," said Rick Brennan, vice president of marketing, Kumho Tire U.S.A. "Tires are the only four points of contact a driver has with the road and if we can make a difference in just one young driver's life who has gone through the course and given him or her the tools to steer and brake correctly, to slow down and to just be more aware of everything going on around them when they drive, then the program is certainly worthwhile."

Many parents of teens who took the Key to Safe Teen Driving course certainly found the class worthwhile, not only for their young drivers, but also for themselves. Rick School whose teen attended the Appleton, Wisconsin class said, "Great program. Please bring it back next year. You will never know how many lives you have saved because of this program. It has to be in the hundreds, even thousands over the years."

During June, July and August of 2012, the Key to Safe Teen Driving program made stops in large and small cities throughout Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin. Teen drivers left the courses feeling more confident about their driving with a real sense of what can happen when they allow distractions such as cell phones and peers cloud their better judgment while driving. "I really enjoyed the program. I was not happy about going in the beginning, but I was smiling when I left. I think it really helped me feel more confident in my driving," said Alexander Hodge of Neenah, Wisconsin.

Kumho Tire U.S.A. also supports Teen Driver Safety Week coming up October 14-20, 2012. This week of national awareness on the importance of young drivers practicing safe driving techniques and learning to ignore distractions such as cell phones, stereos, mp3 players and more, highlights the fact that teens have the highest percentage of fatal car accidents among drivers of all age groups, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many accidents may also be avoided if the driver regularly inspects his or her tires for uneven or too much wear, not enough tread, too much or too little air pressure and more. Kumho encourages all drivers, especially young drivers learning the ways of the road, to make it a point to check their tires at least once a month. To learn how to check a car's tire pressure and wear, visit Kumho's website at www.KumhoTireUSA.com/tire/basics/tire-safety.