Teenagers are leaving Austin Community College (ACC) with life-saving skills after a daylong hands-on driving training event at the Hays Campus Public Safety Training Center (PSTC). 

“Statistically, younger drivers are involved in too many fatal and serious injury collisions, and it’s our responsibility to educate and protect them,” says Dale Toler, PTSC interim director. “This isn’t a driver's ed program, but is designed to save teenagers' lives by providing additional skills and training needed today on the roadways.”

In October 2019, participants in the Tire Rack Street Survival Driver event drove their own vehicles on the PSTC track. The event was open to 16- to 21-year-olds. 

This was the second Tire Rack Street Survival Course on campus. 

The college partners with Hill Country Region Porsche Club of America and the Tejas Chapter of the BMW CCA to provide each student their own driving coach. Students got hands-on training in real-world situations to learn:

• Skid control on a wet skidpad,

• Collision avoidance maneuvers through lane change activities,

• Threshold braking and ABS exercises,

• Weight transfer through a slalom course,  

• Vehicle safety including seat and hand position and proper mirror placement,

• How to check tire pressure, oil level, and change a tire,

• Issues associated with driver distractions, and

• The need for long-distance vision.

The PSTC plans to host at least two teen drive events annually. Three staff members recently became National Safety Council (NSC) certified and may expand offerings for teen driver safety courses through the NSC program.

For more information about the PSTC, click here. For questions, email Bridget Lott at Bridget.Lott@austincc.edu or call 512-223-1687.