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Teens Test Their Driving Skills Against NASCAR Stars

7 October 1998

ADVISORY/Bay Area Teens Test Their Driving Skills Against NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Stars at AAA's Safe Driving Day

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WHEN:  Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998
       11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

WHERE:  Saint Francis Yacht Club
        West Parking lot
        On the Marina
        San Francisco, Calif. 94123

WHAT: Bay Area teens will be pitted against professional NASCAR
     drivers in an actual driving test on a course carefully designed
     by CHP and Russell Racing School. AAA, Sear's Point Raceway,
     Russell Racing School and CHP are sponsoring AAA's Safe Driving
     Day, as part of a larger traffic safety program for Bay Area
     teens, culminating in a trip to drive at Sears Point Raceway.
     Although it's been a long time since the NASCAR stars have sat
     next to a DMV evaluator and taken an actual driving test, that's
     exactly what they are going to do.
     
WHO: Thirty Bay Area high school teens have been invited to
     participate in this important traffic safety event. The NASCAR
     drivers will be on hand for various safe-driving activities.
     
WHY: Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for people between
     the age of 15 and 20. More than 6,300 drivers and passengers
     between the age of 15 and 20 died in traffic crashes in 1996 --
     an average of more than 17 deaths per day. In 76 percent of these
     fatal crashes, police reports show driver error or other factors
     related to driver behavior as the cause of the crash. AAA
     believes that teen traffic deaths and injuries can be reduced by
     improving the driving skills of young drivers. 

    Photo Opportunity: Teens and professional NASCAR drivers Ron Hornaday, Rick Carelli, Joe Ruttman and Butch Gilliland are tested by DMV evaluators on makeshift race course by the Bay.