MEDIA RELEASE

Since car crashes are the number one cause of death for teens, AAA Hawaii is launching “Dare to Prepare” free educational workshops to be held at Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii on Monday, Sept. 9 and Wednesday, Sept. 11.

The workshops are designed to help parents and teens prepare for their most dangerous years on the road. The workshops are open to the public.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 33 percent of deaths among 13-19 year-olds occurred in motor vehicle crashes.

AAA has successfully spearheaded several laws to place additional life-saving restrictions on Hawaii’s novice drivers, but many parents and teens may be unfamiliar with the requirements.

“Dare to Prepare” provides critical information that parents and teens, ages 14 and 15, need to know before teens taking the wheel.

The fun, interactive workshop explains to parents and teens why teen drivers crash. It also provides tools and guidelines to help parents and teens go through the challenging learn-to-drive process.  Participants will receive educational tools and resources to take home to help prepare them for driving.

“Teen drivers are inexperienced and often engage in risky behaviors behind the wheel due to a lack of reasoning skills,” Anita Lorz Villagrana, AAA Hawaii’s manager of community programs and traffic safety, said.

“Dare to Prepare aims to jumpstart the dialogue about safe driving between parents and teens. It’s very important because one in five teen drivers will be in a crash during their first year of driving.”

Each two-hour presentation also will review:

* Parents’ and teens roles and responsibilities, including insurance

* Understanding Hawaii’s Graduated Driver Licensing components

* New AAA Hawaii parent-teen driving agreements

* Practical tips on teaching teens to drive

* Additional resources and educational tools that can help.

The program will be offered both days from 6 to 8:15 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii’s Spalding Clubhouse Performing Arts Room, 1704 Waiola St.

Free parking is available at Washington Middle School. Space is limited, reservations are required, and a parent or caregiver must accompany participating teens.

— To register:

AAA.com/safety4teens by Monday, Sept. 2