10/12/12 - A local automotive test track and proving ground will be the site of specialized training this weekend that could save the lives of young drivers. For the fourth consecutive year, FT Techno of America, which operates an 870-acre test track and proving ground in Handy Township, will help high school students improve their driving skills, while increasing awareness of the dangers of distractions like cell phone use and texting while driving. The program is a partnership with the Tire Rack Street Survival School, a national initiative that teaches teens how to drive better, safer and smarter. FT Technoâs Mike Benjamin says the teen driving activity is a natural fit for the proving ground because safety is a priority at the research facility. Benjamin said the 25 to 30 Fowlerville High School students will take part in the full-day program on Saturday. It includes a mix of classroom and hands-on exercises with an instructor alongside each student in their own vehicle. In the classroom students will learn about proper seating and hand positions, mirror placement, the concept of the contact patch with the tires, theories of weight transfer, and the use of long distance vision and situational awareness. On the course, students will have the chance to experience real life situations in a safe environment, learning skid control on a wet skid pad; lane changes/accident avoidance maneuvers; and braking exercises. Students will also drive on FTTA's ceramic tile test tracks simulating ice and snow. (JK)
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