MBCA Educational Foundation

Car Crashes Increase in October

Greg Magnus — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:03:24 +0000

State Farm recently analyzed its auto-accident-claims data from 2003 to 2007 and discovered that the number of claims for injury or collision damage involving drivers age 16 to 17 was 20% higher in October than in a typical month. Another reason to consider sending your teen driver to an organized driving program. It is especially important for new drivers, such as teens, to practice emergency maneuvers under controlled conditions. The Wall Street Journal published an article yesterday about the insurer’s findings for those interested: WSJ, Car Crashes Rise In October (Oct. 6, 2008).

Driver Safety AutoWeek Article

Greg Magnus — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:28:57 +0000

Today’s “Daily Drive” from AutoWeek has an article by Kevin A. Wilson about driver safety and teens. You might find it interesting. Here’s the intro:

More than 90 percent of car crashes can be attributed to driver error, yet most of what we spend as a society on traffic safety goes into cars.

But what are we buying? Is it safety? When considering the problem that teen drivers are more likely to crash than experienced adults, we’re tempted to try to buy our way out of the worry. << Full article here >>

Nomination Needed ASAP

Greg Magnus — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:45:05 +0000

As you know the MBCA Educational Foundation is working with the Tire Rack Street Survival. Tire Rack Street Survival has been nominated for consideration for the American Express Members Project!

Whether a cardmember or not, everyone is invited to participate by commenting on and nominating their favorite projects online. You can help Street Survival secure much needed funding by spending just one painless minute at the Members Project website.

If we get enough support we could qualify for funding - the top project will receive $1.5 million, the second place project will receive $500,000, the third place project will receive $300,000 and two additional projects in the Top Five will receive $100,000 in funding.

Once the submission phase closes on August 19, American Express will work with an Advisory Panel of experts to review the projects and announce the Top 25 submissions on September 9. It’s up to Cardmembers to ultimately choose which projects American Express will fund. Cardmembers can make a collective difference by casting their vote, showing their support for their favorite projects, and narrowing down to the Top Five projects starting September 30.

The winning projects will be those with the most Cardmember votes, announced October 14.

This is the first round –please take action now and nominate Street Survival. You do not need to be an AmEx cardmember to nominate the project, but you will need to be one to vote should Street Survival make it to the top 25:

http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/GN1G22

eBay Auction to Benefit MBCA Educational Foundation

Greg Magnus — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:19:38 +0000

A generous automobile donation has been made to the MBCA Educational Foundation. The foundation will receive the proceeds from the sale of a classic Mercedes-Benz 1972 280SEL 4.5. The auction began on Sunday, July 6, 2008. Membership in MBCA is not required to bid.

Chuck Landenberger has published additional information on the MBCA Forum. The vehicle information can be viewed at eBay here: MBCA Education Foundation Automobile Auction (eBay Item #270251637883).

Again, all proceeds benefit the Mercedes-Benz Club of America Educational Foundation - good luck!

Staggering Cost of Teen Driving - You Can Make a Difference

Greg Magnus — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:41:43 +0000

Its no secret. Teens are involved in automobile accidents at an alarming rate and the tragic loss of life is heart-wrenching, priceless. But the cost in dollars to society has a price according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and AAA. Earlier today (May 28, 2008), MSN published an article by Doug Newcomb that sheds light on their findings:

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than among any other age group.

Ask any parent who has just added a kid to the family’s insurance policy and they’ll tell you how expensive it is to have a teen behind the wheel. But the overall cost of teen driving is as tragic as it is staggering. According to a recent report from AAA, car accidents involving drivers 15 to 17 cost society more than $34 billion in medical expenses, property damage and related costs in 2006.

This massive figure includes $9.8 billion related to fatal crashes, and double that amount ($20.5 billion), connected with non-fatal crashes, while property damage losses made up the remaining $4.1 billion. But there are, of course, more heartbreaking and incalculable losses behind these numbers….

According to an analysis conducted for AAA, in 2006 drivers ages 15 to 17 were involved in approximately 974,000 crashes that injured 406,427 people and killed 2,541.

The rest of the MSN article can be found here, The Staggering Cost of Teen Driving.

Now that you are aware of the problem, are you ready to do something about it? The MBCA Educational Foundation is involved with the Tire Rack Street Survival program; a successful program designed to save lives - teen lives - through driving education. Get involved - save a life. Contact us here and we’ll help you get involved.

If you would prefer to make a financial contribution, that’s available also. Please use the donation button in the right sidebar, which will process your financial contribution to MBCA Educational Foundation (any amount, takes less than 5-minutes). However you may get involved, your contribution is appreciated.

Impressions of a Tire Rack Street Survival® Instructor

Greg Magnus — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:10:25 +0000

By George Murphy, MBCA Technical Director

Last year, over 5,000 teenagers died in motor vehicle crashes, the leading killer of American youths aged 16 to 19, accounting for more than 40 percent of fatalities in that age bracket. To reduce this number, Tire Rack Street Survival® has developed a non-profit, national driver education program aimed at teaching teens the skills they need to stay alive behind the wheel.
- Tire Rack Street Survival®

On April 26 of this year three MBCA members from the Smoky Mountain Section volunteered their time to help with a Tire Rack Street Survival® course conducted in Knoxville, Tennessee. Bill Lenihan, Walter Myer and myself met with local east Tennessee members from BMWCCA and SCCA and were welcomed with open arms to assist as driving instructors and administrative support. This program is now supported by the MBCA Educational Foundation as well.

The primary emphasis of the Tire Rack Street Survival® is a “hands-on” driving experience in real-world situations for new teenage drivers. The students use their own cars to learn about its handling limits and how to control the car in emergency situations. We had 14 students and 14 instructors at our session, so each teen driver was able to stay with one instructor all day.

“The students will become more observant of the traffic situation they find themselves in. They will learn to look far enough ahead to anticipate unwise actions of other drivers. As the students master the application of physics to drive their cars, they will make fewer unwise driving actions themselves. They will understand why they should always wear their own seat belts, and why they should insist that their passengers wear seat belts, too. (more…)

A Teenage Life Will Be Saved

Greg Magnus — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:27:44 +0000

Provided by Mary Alice Cozza

I am Vice President of the MBCA Educational Foundation and have recently been named chair for the Teen Driving Program for the Educational Foundation. Teenage traffic fatalities are at an all time high in our neighborhoods and across our country. Teens are not bad drivers; they just need more experience behind the wheel to know what to do when an unsafe situation occurs. That is exactly what BMW CCA Foundation’s Street Survival Schools do for teens.

Street Survival School is a one day classroom and hands-on course sponsored by Tire Rack that creates a group of exercises that replicate adverse conditions and circumstances encountered in daily driving. Street Survival provides students a safe environment in which to learn and practice proper responses. (more…)

Street Survival and MBCAEF

Greg Magnus — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:45:56 +0000

Last year, over 5,000 teenagers died in motor vehicle crashes, the leading killer of American youths aged 16 to 19, accounting for more than 40 percent of fatalities in that age bracket. To reduce this number, Tire Rack Street Survival® has developed a non-profit, national driver education program aimed at teaching teens the skills they need to stay alive behind the wheel.

The Mercedes-Benz Club of America Educational Foundation is a sponsor of this important driving program. We invite you to join us in our efforts to save lives. View Street Survival video… (more…)

Mission Statement MBCA Educational Foundation

Greg Magnus — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:08:11 +0000

The mission of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America Educational Foundation is to share the rich history and heritage of the Mercedes-Benz automobile through education and preservation.

Our Community

Serving all Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts
Recognizing Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts and their contributions

Education

Promote safe driving through hands-on education
Promote educational scholarships for the restoration and preservation of MB automobiles (more…)

Mercedes-Benz Educational Foundation

admin — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:24:57 +0000

Welcome to the Mercedes-Benz Educational Foundation!

Site is under construction and we look forward to having you back soon.