Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Sterling Owen announced a new training program designed to better prepare teens for driving. The Collision Avoidance Training program (CAT) is an advanced defensive driving and vehicle control program that will provide young drivers with the knowledge and understanding of vehicle dynamics and human kinetics - the forces created by an automobile and the effects of these forces on the human body.

Chief Owen said the department has teamed up with the National Traffic Safety Academy  (NTSA) to offer this unique training opportunity. The object of the program is to enhance a young driver's awareness of the complex task of operating a motor vehicle. It will also provide an opportunity to practice skills that will prepare teens to anticipate and handle hazards that occur daily under normal driving conditions. The curriculums were created around the fact that most teen crashes are classified as "avoidable" and, due to the lack of experience or training, teens are not prepared to make the vehicle respond appropriately.

The training will be divided into two segments - the education segment and the skills segment. The education segment will provide the students a better understanding of the responsibilities and liabilities of the driver, vehicle dynamics, friction and the effects of intoxicating substances on their ability to operate a vehicle. The skills segment will provide hands-on training in the areas of steering, acceleration, deceleration, backing and skid control / skid recovery.

Chief Owen said, "Students will ride with certified driving instructors as they learn skills such as evasive maneuvers, proper cornering, backing and skid recovery. Students will only be allowed to move to the next exercise once the instructor feels the student has successfully demonstrated a reliable degree of skill."

Teens interested in obtaining additional information about the program can call the Knoxville Police Department Training Unit at 865-215-7050. To register for a class, teens will need to call the National Traffic Safety Academy  (NTSA)  office at 1-800-656-6507. The fee for the training is $125.00.