Local teens take part in Collision Avoidance Training

Local teens take part in Collision Avoidance Training

By HANA KIM
6 News Reporter

SEVIERVILLE (WATE) -- Teen crashes are often a deadly problem, but local drivers got a chance to learn safe driving skills Saturday in Sevierville.

A recent study found that Tennessee is the fifth deadliest state for fatal teen crashes during the holidays.

But there's help for teen drivers, a program called Collision Avoidance Training, or CAT for short.

It's a national program for drivers ages 16 to 20. On Saturday, teens in Sevierville benefited from CAT.

Experts say most teen crashes are avoidable so the goal of the program is teaching how to do that.

The idea is to teach teens how best to use their hands and feet to avoid an accident.

Sevierville police officer Preston Parrish gave 6 News a hands on lesson on Saturday. 

"When we are driving, we are going to keep your hands on 8 and 4 o'clock angles," Parrish said, demonstrating on the steering wheel.

That was just one tip being drilled into the minds of the teens who paid for the course. They practiced everything from evasive maneuvers to backing up and emergency braking.

"If I save one kid's life out on the course we have succeeded at the Sevierville Police Department," Parrish said.

So far, CAT's track record is impressive, significantly cutting down on both crashes and traffic citations.

In fact, out of the thousands of teens across the nation who've taken the program in the past nine years, less than six percent have been involved in a crash of any severity.

"Because it teaches them skills that they don't learn in driver's education," Parrish said.

The young drivers agree, saying they now feel a lot safer behind the wheel. "I'm glad I'm here and it's actually been really fun and informative." Whitney Cureton said.

The Sevierville Police Department hopes to teach the course again in the next few months. If you're interested, call (865)-453 5506.

The 12 hour course costs $60 for each teen.