DaimlerChrysler Services Donates $10,000 for Construction of a Crash Avoidance Facility for Teen Drivers

* Auto Crashes are the Number One Killer of Teens * Road Ready Teens Provides Online Game - StreetWise

DENVER, Sept. 24 -- Today, DaimlerChrysler Services donates $10,000 to the Miller Safety Center to aid in the construction of a comprehensive crash-avoidance center available to teens and their families who reside in the Douglas County Area of Colorado. The event and check presentation will take place at O'Brien Park in Parker, Colo. The new crash- avoidance training facility will be dedicated to increasing teens' awareness and understanding of driving risks.

According to research, vehicle crashes are the number one cause of teen deaths. During the last six months seven young adults, ranging in age from 15- to 21-years-old, have been killed in the Douglas County area.

"Our hope is for those teens who participate in the facilities future programs to be able to take steps to protect themselves from driving risks," said Jim Lawn, Director - Denver Business Center for DaimlerChrysler Services North America. Miller Safety Center's programs provide students with development and practice of skills that include skid control and recovery, threshold braking and other crash-avoidance techniques. The Center's goal is to develop quick and appropriate responses to dangerous driving situations and reduce overall reaction time.

"Driving safety is a top concern for our community. We believe we have a responsibility to our community to help contribute to Miller Safety Center's programs as they try to prevent these senseless tragedies. The entire community is pulling together for this fundraiser," said Lawn.

In that spirit, DaimlerChrysler Corporation has an educational online program available called Road Ready Teens. Materials include an online game for teens called StreetWise, the Road Ready Parent's Guide and other resources available at no cost on the program's Web site at http://www.roadreadyteens.org/.

Road Ready Teens is a research-driven, home-based program for parents and teens. The program offers tips and tools designed to help teens gain the necessary driving experience and maturity behind the wheel before tackling high-risk driving situations.

The game has eight missions, each progressively more difficult. Teens can challenge their friends online at http://www.aim.com/. Key challenges and experiences in the game include the influence of teen passengers in the vehicle, nighttime driving, distracted driving and issues related to drinking and driving.

Additional information and news from DaimlerChrysler is available on the Internet at: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/