Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy Los Angeles Reaches One Year Milestone

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy's driver education programs exceed the state minimum requirements and are designed to combat the alarming statistics surrounding teen car crashes.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60 percent of teens experience a car crash in the first year after receiving a license.  "When creating Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, the team wanted to change the face of driver education and use an approach that was appropriate for today's driving environment," said Alexander Hobbach, senior manager of MBDA Worldwide.  "Our methods were developed by road safety experts in a research-based approach and designed to provide the most effective method for both teaching and learning in the realm of driver education and training."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121128/NY20233)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100901/NY58315LOGO)

In its first year, Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy has reached thousands of teens and parents in Southern California through various activities including, school presentations, free parent and teen workshops, distracted driving demonstrations and other activities.  This first anniversary milestone follows Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy's recent activities surrounding National Teen Driver Safety Week this past October, where the academy joined state and local safety advocates at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles to encourage and educate teens of the benefits of being safe behind-the-wheel.

With the growing complexity of vehicle technology, Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy recently announced an expanded fleet to provide students with an extensive range of training vehicles.  MBDA is the only known driving school in the nation to offer driver training on such a diverse range of vehicles and drivetrains.  Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy fleet features C-Class Sedans & ML Hybrid SUVs, and has recently expanded to include the E350 Diesel, B-Class F-CELL and smart electric.   Later this year a manual transmission SLK250 will be introduced, along with expanded curriculum for new and experienced drivers.  "We believe it is important to provide students with a broad spectrum of vehicles when it comes to their driver training," said Carolyn Duchene, director of Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy. "By teaching students how to drive vehicles beyond the standard gas-powered automatic transmission, we are offering choices to prepare them for today's driving environment and wide range of vehicle choices on the market."

MBDA will continue its advanced offerings in driver education for 2013, which include its flagship Integrated, On-Road and Customized Programs (all with door-to-door pick up/drop off by MBDA's highly-trained driving coaches) as well as DMV Drive Test Service, Distracted Driving Range, and Parent/Teen Workshops.  Additionally, as announced  in September and continuing through  the upcoming year Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy will continue its global expansion with new locations in China, Canada, and the Netherlands. Each of these schools will embody the MBDA core methodology used in Los Angeles, whereby coaching and empowering decision-making are the key tools and mechanisms designed to enable young students to develop the skills necessary to become safer drivers and passengers for life.

Representatives from Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy will be on-hand at the Mercedes-Benz Booth at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, where they will be showcasing one of their DMV-certified vehicles and offering tips on Driver Education & Training, Graduated Driver Licensing, and parental involvement at this critical time in their teen's lives.

About Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy
Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, opened in Los Angeles in November 2011, is the first international teen driving school.  Mercedes-Benz is the only automotive manufacturer to operate a state-certified driver education school in the United States. 

Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy features a customized curriculum involving a highly interactive, participatory system of key tactical on-line and classroom components in conjunction with on-road training.  The school's highly effective coaching-method and unique offerings, including a closed course distracted driving range, aims to improve better decision-making behind the wheel and develop safer drivers for life.  More information on Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy can be found at www.mbdrivingacademy.com.

About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States.  MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 14 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and the SLS AMG supercar.  

MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans and smart in the US.  More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com.

SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA