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• AAA.com
• AAA.biz/trafficsafety
• AAA Brand Working for You
• AAA Driver Improvement Program
• AAA Driver Training
  Catalog
• AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
• AAA Public Affairs
• Text Messaging
  Mini-Module

  
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  ADTSEA - CA State Conference
  Sacramento, CA
  March 20-21, 2009
  CASE

  Lifesavers 2009 Conference
  Nashville, TN
  March 29 to April 1, 2009
  Lifesavers

  ADTSEA - NC State Conference
  Cherokee, NC
  April 2 - 4, 2009
  NC State Conference

  ADTSEA Annual Conference
  Charlotte, NC
  July 25-30, 2009
  ADTSEA

  DSAA Annual Conference
  Sarasota, FL
  November 11-14, 2009
  DSAA

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
• The American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association
• Driving School Association of the Americas
• The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists
• Center for Disease Control
• Driver Education and Training Administrators

Greetings from AAA and welcome to The Accelerator: Move Forward with AAA Driver Training! First, I would like to personally thank you for your continued support of promoting traffic safety and safe driving behaviors. Since 1935, AAA has played an active role in creating quality driver training curriculums. We know that, without driver training instructors like you, conscientious and knowledgeable drivers of all ages would be a rare occurrence.

AAA recognizes the hard work that is put into teaching your students and helping them to become safe and responsible drivers. I hope this newsletter provides you with a convenient resource for the information you need. You will find current industry news and research, teaching tips and techniques, along with questions and comments from other driver training instructors in the industry. Included is relevant information that can be used immediately in your classroom or in-car training sessions.

One of the goals of this e-newsletter is to share information that we receive from instructors like you. Submit your feedback, questions, suggested teaching tips, and requests for information to AAAdtprograms@national.aaa.com.

Thank you for making a difference!

Jack Coleman, Director, AAA Automotive and Driver Programs

Check out this instructor teaching tip and learn how to help students who have a hard time asking questions and participating in group discussions. Read More...

Instructor Resources
Catch the Buzz on BIZ!

Learn everything you want to know about the AAA Driver Improvement Program™ on AAA.biz. Read More...

AAA brochures can help you communicate information about defensive driving, the consequences of drinking and driving, how to drive in bad weather, and the meaning of traffic control devices and signs, etc. Read More...

Teen Safety Collaboration

Online Shopping Cart offers Teaching Your Teen to Drive® and Driver-ZED® bundled together at a significantly discounted price. Read More...

News and Research
Technology Can Put Drivers at Risk

The use of new vehicle technologies can be helpful to drivers when they are used properly, but misuse of these features can lead to poor driving habits. Learn what a recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey indicates. Read More...

Child Passenger Safety Seat Installation Update

Child safety seat and vehicle designs change quickly. NHTSA's National Child Passenger Safety curriculum recommends that seats are allowed to move an inch in any direction when testing at the belt path. Read More...

Parental Involvement
Using a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement

Parents can make a difference in teens' driving behaviors when driving instructors communicate that parents are the #1 role model. Read More...

Vehicle Technology
Ford's "My Key" System Intended to Enhance Teen Driving Safety

Ford will be releasing its My Key system that is specifically designed to limit the performance of vehicles driven by new teen drivers. Read More...

Glad You Asked

Q. What is AAA StartSmart™?

A. AAA StartSmart is a new parent-involvement
newsletter system that e-mails parents
stage-appropriate articles focused on keeping their teen safe behind the wheel. Articles cover a variety of topics such as:

• Distracted driving
• Importance of wearing a seat belt
• Dangers of adverse weather conditions
• Dangers of driving with other teen passengers
• Alcohol and other drug use and much more!

AAA StartSmart is currently being pilot-tested by 10 AAA clubs. To see if it's available in your club's territory, visit AAA.com/StartSmart. For more information, contact John White, AAA Project Manager, (407) 444-7131.