> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Teenagers on skids to save lives
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Teenagers on skids to save lives
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Steve Gratton, an instructor of SkidSchool, is surrounded by students. Reminder Publications photo by Erin O'Connor
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By Erin O'Connor
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD A portion of Barnes Airport was open to participants of SkidSchool, an advanced driver training program for teens that is part of a joint cooperative between the non-profit Massachusetts Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation and Stevens Advanced Driving School.
"I know that many of you came in with your own personal principles of driving, but give them up to the four of us today," Brett Bogart, director of operations for SkidSchool said to a crowd of teenagers and their parents inside the walls of a small trailer on Dec. 9.
Bogart and the instructors of SkidSchool came from Stevens Advanced Driver Training School (SADTS) in Bedford, NH where Sandy Stevens, co-owner of SADTS, along with Bogart helped to start SkidSchool with the Charitable Foundation.
"We prefer kids that have their permits because we like to get them early before bad habits form," Bogart said.
The program lasts four hours and consists of Bogart, Martha E. Bartle, the Charitable Foundation manager, and trained stunt driving instructors educating students on driving skills.
Tyson Duve, Steve Gratton and Addison Masse were the day's instructors, taking the students and parents on road tests and drills. All three instructors belong to the Porsche Club of America, a club whichsponsors driver education, restoration and technical sessions.
"Getting your license is one of the best things that you can do in your life," Bogart said. "It gives you so much freedom but part of it is taking an oath that you are going to be responsible for not just yourself but also for other drivers on the road."
The first drill was a test on straight line braking. Students climbed into 2006 Kia Spectras at 9:30 a.m., that were donated to the program, and braced as the 50 mph vehicle came to a fast halt in front of a line of orange cones.
"It is important in showing how to be hard on the brakes and straight on the steering wheel," Bogart said.
Other exercises that the day's activities included were slalom drills (turning to avoid accidents) and tailgating drills. Portions of the day were also devoted to talking about road rage, hydroplaning and vehicle equipment.
"A good question to ask yourself is, 'If today is the worst weather of the year, do I feel comfortable driving in these tires," Bogart said to the class.
"It is a better experience to know how to handle the unexpected road problems," Marjorie Kelly, a parent said. "It's a great program. [Students] really don't get that much opportunity to do something like this."
Another parent, Ann Hathaway, said she enrolled her daughter because she is willing to do "anything that I know will keep her safe on the road."
"It teaches stuff that we need to know but we never learn and can't do because it's illegal to do on regular roads," Addison said.
The classes are taught year- round from January until December. This year the program enrolled 1,500 teenagers.
The cost of the class is initially $250. The Charitable Foundation pays $50 of this amount and through sponsorships the fee steadily decreases. Sarat Ford of Agawam and Balise Toyota of West Springfield gave an extra $75 rebate to each student for the course. Each parent walked away paying $175 for their child to participate.
The morning program was sponsored by Sarat Ford of Agawam and the afternoon program was sponsored by Balise Toyota of West Springfield. The dealerships bussed the students to the Barnes location and provided them pizza at the conclusion of the class.
The cost is high to cover insurance costs, instructor fees and maintenance of the cars Bogart said.
"We are limited as to where we can have the classes because it has to be safe and we need as much space as possible," Bartle said in explaining that the Barnes location. It was one of six locations in Massachusetts that was adequate to host the class.
SkidSchool was previously at Barnes in August. They attract students to the classes from areas that include Westfield, Northampton, Amherst, Agawam, West Springfield, Springfield and a few cities in Connecticut.
SkidSchool is currently working on legislation that would provide Massachusetts students of the classes with a five percent insurance reduction for seven years after participating in the program. They hope to have this enacted by April 2007.
"Accidents are by far the biggest problem existing for teens," Bogart said. "Car crashes for 16-19 year-olds are the biggest causes of death and the other causes of death don't come close to equaling this number. There are over 6,000 teens who die a year from this and we are part of the solution," he added.
"From the time we went into Iraq until now we have lost 3,000 soldiers," Bogart said. "In that same timeframe we have lost 24,000 teens from accidents."
Bogart said SkidSchool is working towards a solution and that students and parents should expect more out of their driver's education programs.
SkidSchool was started in 2001 and since that date has trained over 4,500 young drivers.
SkidSchool signs up 15 students per session for more information contact the foundation at (617) 451-1051 or visit www.skidschool.org
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> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Teenagers on skids to save lives
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