The ART of Driving

May 6, 2022  by

What The Art of Driving is doing to save our teens…

First, some facts: 23% of teen drivers are more likely to drive with three or more teens in the car in the summer, compared to 6% of teen drivers who are more likely to do so during the school year.

  • 48% of all teen driving fatalities were single vehicle crashes.
  • Approximately 3,000 15-20 year-olds are killed each year in vehicle crashes.
  • Alcohol and drugs are not major causes for these fatalities – representing only 20%.
  • 54% of all teen passenger deaths occurred when another teen was driving.
  • The teen brain has not fully developed until the mid 20’s. They are susceptible to distractions, risk taking behaviors, and a limited capacity to multi-task.
  • Inexperience and distractions are the leading cause of teen driving fatalities, particularly for 16 and 17-year-olds.
  • The majority of teen auto fatalities occur on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Most of those deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight.

So what can we, as parents, grandparents, and friends, do to keep our children, grandchildren and friends safe on the road? Education is one of the best ways to help and there is no better place to learn about teen driving safety than The Art of Driving, founded by Robin Thompson after she tragically lost her 16 year old daughter, Ashley Renee Thompson, in a single vehicular crash in 2003. Robin’s passion is now educating the public on how we can keep our teens safe on the road. The Art of Driving offers teen awareness and responsibility training, parent awareness and responsibility training, a teen task force, and programs brought into schools, youth groups and civic organizations.

Additionally, Robin gives back through The Ashley Renee Thompson Memorial Foundation scholarship each year, granted to a deserving graduating senior. The application process includes:

  • a 500 word essay
  • letters of recommendation
  • high school transcript
  • record of community/school service
  • a 55 second video you produce to empower and motivate your peers to “Survive the 5” leading causes of teen vehicle crashes.

Applications are now being accepted for their 2022 Ashley R. Thompson Memorial Scholarship.

We are honored to once again partner with The Art of Driving as our May Community Outreach Partner and are donating $1 from every haircut this month to this amazing, local non-profit.

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May 1, 2021  by

Summer warnings for teen drivers: The Art of Driving, our May Community Outreach Partner

First, some facts: 23% of teen drivers are more likely to drive with three or more teens in the car in the summer, compared to 6% of teen drivers who are more likely to do so during the school year.

  • 48% of all teen driving fatalities were single vehicle crashes.
  • Approximately 3,000 15-20 year-olds are killed each year in vehicle crashes.
  • Alcohol and drugs are not major causes for these fatalities – representing only 20%.
  • 54% of all teen passenger deaths occurred when another teen was driving.
  • The teen brain has not fully developed until the mid 20’s. They are susceptible to distractions, risk taking behaviors, and a limited capacity to multi-task.
  • Inexperience and distractions are the leading cause of teen driving fatalities, particularly for 16 and 17-year-olds.
  • The majority of teen auto fatalities occur on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Most of those deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight.

So what can we, as parents, grandparents, and friends, do to keep our children, grandchildren and friends safe on the road? Education is one of the best ways to help and there is no better place to learn about teen driving safety than The Art of Driving, founded by Robin Thompson after she tragically lost her 16 year old daughter, Ashley Renee Thompson, in a single vehicular crash in 2003. Robin’s passion is now educating the public on how we can keep our teens safe on the road. The Art of Driving offers teen awareness and responsibility training, parent awareness and responsibility training, a teen task force, and programs brought into schools, youth groups and civic organizations.

Additionally, Robin gives back through The Ashley Renee Thompson Memorial Foundation scholarship each year, granted to a deserving graduating senior. The application process includes:

  • a 500 word essay
  • letters of recommendation
  • high school transcript
  • record of community/school service
  • a 55 second video you produce to empower and motivate your peers to “Survive the 5” leading causes of teen vehicle crashes.

The winner for the 2021 Scholarship is Summer Duba from Westfield High School in Herndon, VA. Learn more here.

We are honored to once again partner with The Art of Driving as our May Community Outreach Partner and are donating $1 from every haircut this month to this amazing, local non-profit.

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May 2, 2019  by

Keeping our children safe on the road – our May community outreach partner: The Art of Driving

First, some facts: 23% of teen drivers are more likely to drive with three or more teens in the car in the summer, compared to 6% of teen drivers who are more likely to do so during the school year.

  • 48% of all teen driving fatalities were single vehicle crashes.
  • Approximately 3,000 15-20 year-olds are killed each year in vehicle crashes.
  • Alcohol and drugs are not major causes for these fatalities – representing only 20%.
  • 54% of all teen passenger deaths occurred when another teen was driving.
  • The teen brain has not fully developed until the mid 20’s. They are susceptible to distractions, risk taking behaviors, and a limited capacity to multi-task.
  • Inexperience and distractions are the leading cause of teen driving fatalities, particularly for 16 and 17-year-olds.
  • The majority of teen auto fatalities occur on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Most of those deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight.

So what can we, as parents, grandparents, and friends, do to keep our children, grandchildren and friends safe on the road? Education is one of the best ways to help and there is no better place to learn about teen driving safety than The Art of Driving, founded by Robin Thompson after she tragically lost her 16 year old daughter, Ashley Renee Thompson, in a single vehicular crash in 2003. Robin’s passion is now educating the public on how we can keep our teens safe on the road. The Art of Driving offers teen awareness and responsibility training, parent awareness and responsibility training, a teen task force, and programs brought into schools, youth groups and civic organizations.

Additionally, Robin gives back through The Ashley Renee Thompson Memorial Foundation scholarship each year, granted to a deserving graduating senior. The application process includes:

  • a 500 word essay
  • letters of recommendation
  • high school transcript
  • record of community/school service
  • a 55 second video you produce to empower and motivate your peers to “Survive the 5” leading causes of teen vehicle crashes.

The application deadline for 2019 is May 6, 2019. Learn more here.

We are honored to once again partner with The Art of Driving as our May Community Outreach Partner and are donating $1 from every haircut this month to this amazing, local non-profit.

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May 1, 2018  by

Keeping Teens Safe on the Road with The ART of Driving: Our May Community Outreach Partner

Ashley Renee Thompson lost her life in a singular vehicular accident on June 10, 2003 — she was just sixteen years old. She was an advanced placement student, a competitive gymnast, and loved by her friends and peers. Her mother created The ART of Driving in memory of her daughter to increase awareness among teens and parents of the unique risks faced by young, novice drivers and to impress upon them the need for improved training, increased supervised time behind-the-wheel, and increased parental involvement. The ART of Driving is also advocating for improvements in driver education for our youth and seeks to change the mindset of teens and their parents that tragedies like this “won’t happen to me”.

We are proud to once again partner with The Art of Driving as our May Community Outreach Partner. This is our sixth year supporting The Art of Driving through our Community Outreach Partner program. We will be donating $1 from every haircut this May to this wonderful, local non-profit whose mission is to keep our children safe.

We would love for you to learn more about teen driving, particularly during the most dangerous driving season for teens: prom and graduation season. What can you do as a parent, grandparent, Godparent, Uncle, Aunt, friend to help save a child’s life? The Art of Driving has various resources to help. They can assist with starting a Teen Task Force at school or in a youth club or group. They will come speak at PTSA, Teen Night, Driver’s Education classes, SGA or any other interested group to help educate and enable our local youth to be more responsible and aware drivers. Other things you can do to help your children and to support The Art of Driving:

  1. Have your child(ren) sign The Art of Driving Pledge.
  2. Purchase a copy of How the Firefly Got Its Name, written by Ashley when she was just twelve. (If your kids are too old for this book consider a purchase to donate to your local school library).

How the Firefly Got Its Name

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May 8, 2017  by

Our May community outreach partner shares a few facts that can save your child’s life …

AshleyThomspon

Ashley Renee Thompson lost her life in a singular vehicular accident on June 10, 2003 — she was just sixteen years old. She was an advanced placement student, a competitive gymnast, and loved by her friends and peers. Her mother created The ART of Driving in memory of her daughter to increase awareness among teens and parents of the unique risks faced by young, novice drivers and to impress upon them the need for improved training, increased supervised time behind-the-wheel, and increased parental involvement. The ART of Driving is also advocating for improvements in driver education for our youth and seeks to change the mindset of teens and their parents that tragedies like this “won’t happen to me”.

Teen crash and fatality statistics are absolutely sobering:

  • 48% of all teen driving fatalities were single vehicle crashes.
  • Alcohol and drugs are NOT major causes for these fatalities – representing only 20%.
  • Inexperience and distractions are the leading cause of teen driving fatalities, particularly for 16 and 17-year-olds.
  • 54% of all teen passenger deaths occurred when another teen was driving.
  • The teen brain has not fully developed until the mid 20’s. They are susceptible to distractions, risk taking behaviors, and a limited capacity to multi-task.
  • 80% of crashes involve some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the crash.
  • The majority of teen auto fatalities occur on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Most of those deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight.
  • 16 to 18-year-olds have the highest crash rate of any other age group.

So what can you do as a parent, grandparent, Godparent, Uncle, Aunt, friend to help save a child’s life? The Art of Driving has various resources to help. They can assist with starting a Teen Task Force at school or in a youth club or group. They will come speak at PTSA, Teen Night, Driver’s Education classes, SGA or any other interested group to help educate and enable our local youth to be more responsible and aware drivers.

We have once again partnered with The Art of Driving to raise money and awareness for this wonderful, local non-profit. We will be donating $1 from every haircut this May to The Art of Driving. There are a few ways you can help out as well:

  1. Register for the 3rd Annual Survive the 5 (with both 5k and 10k race options) to help raise awareness and support The Art of Driving educational programs and their scholarship fund.
  2. Have your child(ren) sign The Art of Driving Pledge.
  3. Purchase a copy of How the Firefly Got Its Name, written by Ashley when she was just twelve. (If your kids are too old for this book consider a purchase to donate to your local school library).

 

ArtOfDrivingLogo

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June 3, 2016  by

The Art of Driving is urging you to know these shocking facts!

ArtOfDrivingLogoDid you know that inexperience and distractions are the leading causes of teen driving fatalities, particularly for 16 and 17 year olds?

Robin Thompson, Founder of The Art of Driving, is out to change these statistics by increasing your child’s driving IQ through the many great programs offered by this unique, local non-profit. Robin lost her sixteen year old daughter, Ashley, in 2003 in a singular vehicular accident. Through her devastation and grief, Robin wanted to do something to help other teens and parents.

Every year approximately 3,000 teens die on our nation’s highways and another 300,000 suffer severe injuries and lifelong disabilities. The National Safety Council sees the issue as a national health crisis, and Robin believes that every parent and teen should pay attention.

We’ve been proud supporters of The Art of Driving for many years. In addition to the helping raise the driving IQ of our local teens, The Art of Driving also has a scholarship foundation. We are blessed to once again sponsor The Art of Driving this June by donating $1 from every haircut in our Fairfax and Dulles Landing Locations. We encourage you, particularly in this high risk driving season of high school graduations, to read through the Art of Driving website to learn how to raise your teen’s driving IQ and encourage them to Take the Pledge to be smart teen drivers.

Additionally, you can purchase a children’s story through the Art of Driving titled, How the Firefly Got Its Name, written by Ashley when she was just twelve. Proceeds from the book support The Art of Driving. Ashley was a lover of the Latin language as well as Green and Roman mythology. Originally an assignment for her seventh grade Latin class, How the Firefly Got It’s Name was submitted to the Virginia Junior Classical League Latin Convention after the urging of her teacher where it won first place. It’s a beautiful story and we urge you to purchase a book for your children or as a gift to a local school library.

AshleyThomspon

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June 3, 2015  by

We love what the ART of Driving is doing for teens and driving safety!

We are proud to be once again sponsoring The ART of Driving this June by donating $1 from every haircut to this organization dedicated to keeping teens safe on the road.

The stats are sobering. We will share just a few from The ART of Driving website:

  • 48% of all teen driving fatalities were single vehicle crashes.
  • Alcohol and drugs are NOT major causes for these fatalities – representing only 20%.
  • Inexperience and distractions are the leading cause of teen driving fatalities, particularly for 16 and 17-year-olds.
  • 54% of all teen passenger deaths occurred when another teen was driving.
  • The teen brain has not fully developed until the mid 20’s. They are susceptible to distractions, risk taking behaviors, and a limited capacity to multi-task.
  • 80% of crashes involve some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the crash.
  • The majority of teen auto fatalities occur on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Most of those deaths occurred between 9 p.m. and midnight.
  • 16 to 18-year-olds have the highest crash rate of any other age group.

The ART of Driving spreads its message of safe teen driving through a variety of presentations. Presentations can be arranged for schools, youth organizations, churches, civic groups, driver education programs, and even for groups of concerned parents wishing to sponsor presentations for themselves and their teen drivers.

The ART of Driving was founded by Robin Thompson in memory of her daughter Renee Ashley who lost her life in a single vehicular accident when Renee was just 16 years old. Robin has dedicated herself to helping teach parents and teens the many dangers associated with teen driving and how to help your teens stay safe on the road.

If you love to run and would like to help support The ART of Driving, be sure to sign up for their 2nd Annual ‘Survive the 5’ 5k run here.2015 5klogo

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July 8, 2013  by

Our July Community Outreach – Keeping Our Kids Safe via The ART of Driving

Image

Ashley Renee Thompson lost her life in a singular vehicular accident on June 10, 2003 — she was just sixteen years old. She was an advanced placement student, a competitive gymnast, and loved by her friends and peers. Her mother created The ART of Driving program in memory of her daughter to increase awareness among teens and parents of the unique risks faced by young, novice drivers and to impress upon them the need for improved training, increased supervised time behind-the-wheel, and increased parental involvement. The ART of Driving is also advocating for improvements in driver education for our youth and seeks to change the mindset of teens and their parents that tragedies like this “won’t happen to me”.

The ART of DrivingIt is our hope to help bring awareness to this organization. If just one parent or teen gains a new piece of knowledge from The ART of Driving that saves a life, then this will have been our most successful community outreach event to date! Please take a moment to Learn the Top 5 Reasons for Teen Crashes and Injuries, as well as an overview of programs offered through The ART of Driving.

For the month of July, Salon Khouri will donate $1 from every haircut to the Ashley Renee Thompson Memorial Foundation.

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