Andretti leads Driver’s Edge program

Marco Andretti

Marco Andretti knows that whether he’s buckled in an IndyCar Series car traveling 220 mph or his passenger car on city streets, safety is the first priority.

The Andretti Green Racing driver drove home that point to almost 200 young drivers (ages 15 to 21) recently in Las Vegas as part of the Driver’s Edge program.

Driver’s Edge is a free classroom and behind-the-wheel program for young drivers that teaches real life emergency avoidance and response techniques and overall driver safety. Driver’s Edge was developed to address the high number of young driver automobile collisions and fatalities that occur each year.

“The thing that’s cool about being a guest instructor for Driver’s Edge is that I get to use my experience to help people my age become safer and better drivers out on the road – maybe even help save a life," the 21-year-old Andretti said.

During the event, Andretti and the Driver’s Edge team of instructors gave behind-the-wheel instruction on skid control, collision avoidance techniques and panic braking skills – things that aren’t typically taught in traditional forms of driver’s education in America.

“Motor vehicle collisions kill more teens every year than drugs, guns and violent crimes combined, yet conventional driver’s education in America continues to simply teach young drivers how to pass a test and then sends them out on the roads," said Jeff Payne, founder of Driver’s Edge. “We’re trying to do something about that."

The event wrapped up the 2008 Driver’s Edge season, which included a 16-city national tour along with another eight events in the program’s home state of Nevada.