The Simulator Teen Driver Education Launches Nationwide Driver's Safety Campaign

An exciting new, multimedia, interactive driver's training experience designed to prepare teenagers and their parents for a lifetime of safety on the road -- The Simulator Teen Driver Education -- launches April 13-15, 2007 in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

Orange County, CA (PRWEB) April 11, 2007 -- An exciting new, multimedia, interactive driver's training experience designed to prepare teenagers and their parents for a lifetime of safety on the road -- The Simulator Teen Driver Education -- launches April 13-15, 2007 in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

The initial event will take place at the Costco Plaza, 33949 Camino Capistrano and is presented in association with San Juan Capistrano Ford and Costco. The California Highway Patrol, the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and the California Department of Insurance will also be on hand to give helpful tips and answer questions for parents. The Simulator Teen Driver Education is free to teens and their parents. Hours are 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. daily.

"We're on a mission to redefine driver's education and provide a proven training program for teens that will save lives," said Tim Albright, president, Metro City Group, owner of The Simulator, a sixty-eight foot tractor trailer equipped with the latest technology in a virtual simulator evaluation program that provides practical behind the wheel driving in a simulated environment.

It takes students on a fifteen-minute interactive experience, allow them to practice in a variety of driving situations from high traffic, fog, rain and nighttime driving to turn lane, passing, and yield scenarios.

"The difference in our simulator and ones of the past is that this gets the kids involved directly in real time driving situations, instead of just being a part of a video game type of experience," Albright stated.

And The Simulator doesn't come a moment too soon. According to a study released in January 2006 by the American Automobile Association's Foundation for Traffic Safety, entitled "Teen Crashes: Everyone Is at Risk," drivers ages 15-17 were "involved in fatal crashes that claimed the lives of 30,917 people" from 1995 through 2004.

Upcoming events where the public can experience The Simulator include: Southern California Auto Expo, April 25-29 at the Ontario Convention Center; Extreme Motorsports Expo, May 18-20 at the Orange County Fair & Exhibit Center; the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Festival and Surf Championships; several NHRA Championship drag racing events including July 20-22 at Schuk's Auto Supply Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA, (outside of Seattle), July 27-29 at the Fram Autolite Nationals at Sonoma Dragstrip in Sonoma, CA, and October 18-21 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, NV. From May 25 to June 10, The Simulator will be making stops at seventeen high schools in Tazewell county, a rural community located outside of Peoria, IL that has one of the most devastating teen driving fatality records in the nation.

The Simulator puts students in dangerous situations without putting them in real life danger, enabling them to practice possible solutions with potential problems such as pedestrians that wander onto a roadway, drivers who fail to stop for red lights/stop signs, or speeding. Each driver will be evaluated at the end of the experience and given a print out detailing their results on drivers responses, reaction times, crash reduction techniques, and general knowledge of the road.

The Simulator trailer is equipped with a state-of-the-art multimedia room, where parents can view educational materials that will assist them in better participating in their teen's driving experience. Located in the very front are a fully equipped recording studio, theatre projection studio and audio channeling room. Incorporated into the seventy foot awning located directly outside is a 180' screen Simulator Theatre complete with Surround Sound.

Based in Laguna Niguel, CA, The Simulator was created to help parents and teens learn about the resources available to help them become safer, better, and more responsible drivers. All services are provided free of charge. The Simulator Teen Driver Education is presented in association with The Ad Council, National Driving Instructors Institute, California Highway Patrol Start Smart Program, California Office of Traffic Safety and Governor's Highway Safety Association. Sponsors include Driving Skills for Life, Ford Motor Company Fund, Dell, Inc., Fulfillment Plus, Inc., and Staples. Simulator Systems International (SSI), a multinational leader in simulation technology, designed the driving evaluation program running in The Simulator. SSI has designed numerous software systems for the airline industry, Department of Defense, and automotive manufacturers.

For more information on when The Simulator will be in your area, visit www.streetsimulator.com or call 949/348-0277.

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