Michelin awards driver training grant

MIAMI (March 17, 2015) — Group Michelin has selected the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA) as the winner of a $100,000 grant to help it develop a tire safety and maintenance training module.

ADTSEA, a professional association representing traffic safety educators, is scheduled to carry out the training at workshops in Miami and Long Beach, Calif. — tied into the Formula e electric car races held there — as well as at the group's national conference in July.

Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America Inc., said ADTSEA's proposal “can easily be scaled to reach driver education teachers across the country and sustained well into the future.

“Through ADTSEA's reach and commitment to quality education, we can help close a dangerous safety gap among teen drivers and create a lasting community legacy,” he added.

The grant program — backed by the Formula racing's Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) — complements Michelin's efforts to improve the safety of teen drivers by teaching proper tire maintenance, the tire maker said.

Last year, Michelin and the FIA launched “Beyond the Driving Test,” a campaign designed to make new resources available to help teens and parents brush up on their own car and tire maintenance skills — including a downloadable glove box guide with important tips — and will include a series featuring popular teen YouTube stars sharing tire safety tutorials.

Michelin noted in announcing the winner that automobile accidents are the No. 1 killer of teens in America, with more than 5,000 deaths each year. Of the 2.2 million vehicle accidents taking place annually, 12 percent are among inexperienced drivers and involve tire-related issues such as insufficient tire tread or improperly inflated tires.

The one-day sessions ADTSEA is planning will focus on how to teach tire safety and maintenance and how to incorporate this training module into the ADTSEA 3.0 Driver Education Curriculum, Michelin said.

Participants will receive a free copy of the curriculum, including lesson plans, learning activities, visuals and videos — customized with Michelin tire safety materials. As part of the session, hands-on activities will “teach the teachers” how to check tire pressure, tread depth and tire condition. Teachers will be encouraged to take this information back to their own communities and conduct workshops for other teachers. The tire safety and maintenance module will be available on the ADTSEA website for free download.

“ADTSEA is honored to be awarded this grant from Michelin and the FIA, and we look forward to adding tire safety to our core curriculum,” said Allen Robinson, chief executive officer of ADTSEA. “This is a natural extension of our mission to equip the novice driver with the skills to begin the lifelong learning process of driving in today's challenging highway transportation system.”