The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, developer, owner and operator of U.S. Cellular Field, will host the first of three statewide “ride and drive” safety events that teach hands-on vehicle safety instruction to teenagers.  As part of Ford Motor Company’s nationwide award-winning Driving Skills for Life teen safe driving program, the “ride and drive” event will give Chicago area high school students that are winners of the statewide Operation Teen Safe Driving initiative competition, the chance to hone their safe driving skills. Students will be given the opportunity to work on their skills in specially equipped vehicles on challenging driving courses while under supervision of a team of professional instructors, including former Formula One and Indianapolis 500 drivers.  The focus is on improving their driving skills in the areas of: hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed management and space management; the four areas which are identified as causing more than 60 percent of teen traffic crashes.

WHEN:  Monday, May 12, 2008, 10:30 a.m. CT

WHAT:  Press Conference with spokespeople from the Ford Motor Company, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).  Event provides an opportunity for B-roll, photos and interviews with Chicago teen participants, professional instructors and program spokespeople.  Media attending will be walked over to the Mustang driving course immediately following the press conference.

WHO: 

• Chicago area high school students who won the Operation Teen Safe Driving competition
• Jim Graham, Manager of Community Relations, Ford Motor Company
• Mike Stout, Director of Division of Traffic Safety, Illinois Department of Transportation; GHSA representative

WHERE:   

U.S. Cellular Field
333 West 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60616

Media Parking: Lot B
Driving Courses: Lots A, B and C