May 11th, 2024
The Skip Barber Driving Academy provides a foundation for safe and proficient driving. Students of this one-day program gain a greater understanding of vehicle dynamics. Knowing how a car will respond in an emergency situation is critical to knowing how to avoid one. During this school you participate in accident-avoidance exercises like panic braking and emergency lane changes. You will also learn how to properly correct a skid, practice slides and recoveries, and introduce yourself to performance driving on the autocross course.
Our Curriculum
Vehicle Dynamics: Weight transfer, tire contact patch, and “string theory”
Vision: Where, when, and why you look
Braking: ABS & threshold braking, plus the relationship between braking and turning
Skid Pad: Recognizing, correcting, and recovering from a slide
The Open Road: Following distance, lead time, and emergency lane changes
Hydroplaning: How to react and how not to react
Maintenance: The critical aspects of tire and vehicle care
Distractions: The dangers and risks of distracted driving
Autocross: A miniature racecourse that puts the entire curriculum into practice
The Scale of the Problem
AAA Northeast analyzed young driver crash data from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, finding 46,420 drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 were involved in crashes in New York last year — equivalent to one crash every 12 minutes.
In 2022, 124 drivers aged 16-20 were killed in a car crash in the state of New York, the highest since 2013.
In the United States, teenagers drive less than all but the oldest people, but the numbers of crashes and crash deaths are disproportionately high.
The fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16-19 year-olds is nearly 3 times the rate for drivers ages 20 and over. Risk is highest at ages 16-17.
