Street Survival School comes to Keesler again Published Feb. 15, 2013 By Master Sgt. Samuel Fronteraocasio 81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Do you have a young teenager who recently got his driver's license or just bought his first car? Are you a supervisor of a young Airman who now can afford that new fancy car? Our next Tire Rack Street Survival School is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 23 and includes a classroom portion at the Airman Leadership School, followed by a hands-on portion on Ramp 3 of the flight line. Spaces are limited to the first 25 registered participants. Those with driver's permits or under the age of 18 are allowed to take the course with parental consent. Let's face it, driver's education only teaches young drivers the rules of the road or just enough to pass the driver's license test. Often we send our young drivers off on the roads and we constantly worry about how they will handle their first experience in an emergency situation. If you need more assurance of teens and driving statistics, read the stats below from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2010, the latest year for which data is available: · In 2010, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death among 13 to 19-year-old males and females in the United States. · In 2010, 58 percent of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers. · In 2009, 11 percent of the people who died in distracted driving crashes were teens 15 to 19 years old. What is the Tire Rack Street Survival School? The BMW Car Club Association with sponsorship from Tire Rack, created the Tire Rack Street Survival School to serve as a national non-profit teen driving program in 2002. The program was piloted in 2003 with several successful schools held around the country. The Sports Car Club of America joined forces with the BMW CCA in order to offer the training to more schools nationwide. Every year the program grew extending to more states and locations nationwide. Since its creation 10 years ago, they have held over 500 schools. Tire Rack Street Survival School's motto is, "It's about more than driving. It's about living!" The school's aim is to reduce deadly car crashes involving teenagers by providing them a controlled setting where they can gain valuable experience in car control with a knowledgeable coach always at their side helping them to understand how important experience is compared to guessing when the unexpected happens on the road. In a safe environment, students are put into challenging situations so they learn to control their own vehicle and understand the consequences of being on the verge of "out of control." Students will hear the sounds going on around them, including squealing tires, the engine and the brakes, to build an awareness of how hard their vehicle is working. Finally, wet traction is replicated by wetting part of the course and allowing students to feel the difference between dry and wet conditions, all while assisting and teaching them how to maintain control of their vehicle. It's not a course for learning how to drive at high speeds -- safety and car control are the objectives. Keesler partnered with the 81st Training Wing Safety Office and the Gulf Coast Region SCCA to host the Tire Rack Street Survival School to our base. With a team of 30-40 volunteers, we sustain a program that allows the students to make educated decisions when driving, rather than guessing what to do. Our program started in November 2011 and we are proud to say that Keesler is the only Air Force base to host this life-saving course. By the end of 2012, we conducted five classes for more than 100 students who are now more experienced and have the knowledge to prevent potential accidents in the future. To reserve a spot or for more information, call 228-376-3202 or email keeslerautox@gmail.com.