Folks, when it comes to safety, the numbers don't lie. With each new year, thousands upon thousands of people lose their lives in car accidents, many of which could have prevented with the right education and professional training. In 2009 alone, roughly 5,400 people died in crashes that were reported to have been caused by distracted drivers, many of whom were either texting or using their cell phones behind the wheel. And as much as we at Wagner Kia of Shrewsbury can sell you on the exceptional safety standards of all our new and used Kia models, we never forget the importance of driving safe to begin with.
With that in mind, it came as no surprise when the powers that be at Kia Motors America (KMA) teamed up with the Charlotte, NC-based charity B.R.A.K.E.S. to make safety a priority for 150 teenagers from the ages of 15 1/2 to 19. For those unfamiliar, B.R.A.K.E.S. is an organization that has provided advanced safe driving instruction to over 8,000 teens across the US and Canada. And in support of their efforts, Kia not only covered the teens' fees for the training, but also provided a fleet of 2013 Kia Rios to be used by teachers and students alike.
In the words of Michael Sprague, KMA's executive vice president of marketing and communications, "Reinforcing the importance of responsible driving in the first few months of licensure is essential to reducing the number of teen motor vehicle crashes and making the roads safer for everyone."1 As to what kind of training the students undergo, the B.R.A.K.E.S. training teaches them to:
- Avoid accidents when an animal or object jumps in front of their car
- Not be distracted by while driving, whether it be by their cell phones or text messaging
- Recover when a drop-wheel situation occurs
- Follow vehicles at a safe distance and how to stop short while maintaining control
- Recover their vehicles from under-steer and over-steer skids
The course includes up to four hours of hands-on training for students, and also places a great deal of importance on parent involvement in their teen's training. As explained by B.R.A.K.E.S. founder Doug Herbert, "More than 5,000 teenagers lose their lives each year across the country in traffic accidents,"2 and Kia is committed to lowering those numbers.
So if you're shopping for a graduation present or a safe way to teach your teen to drive, then come see us at 730 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts to test drive a Kia today. Because your safety is our priority.
Source: 1,2 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/kia-motors-america-partners-b-191800900.html
