Physics Of Safe Driving Part Of The Curriculum Outside The Classroom

Concord, NC, April 8, 2008 – Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE) and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Science Department are pleased to announce their partnership around the theme “Physics of Safe Driving” and a curriculum project designed to foster better student drivers and interest in the science and physics of automobiles. The ultimate mission of the partnership is to provide students with learning opportunities that use the concepts of forces and motion, friction and acceleration to impact student attitudes towards driving.

The one-day program will take place April, 21st at Lowe’s Motor Speedway as some fifteen CMS secondary science teachers get behind the wheel to learn the concepts behind the 6-module researched based program designed by RPDE. Automobile accidents continue to be the #1 cause of death for Americans aged 16-25 and the Safe Driving Program teaches safe driving skills and provides safety education to participants through on-track experiences in a controlled environment. The teachers from CMS will engage in a series of exercises that include skid control, braking, crash avoidance, two-wheels off, two-wheels on, along with tailgating simulation module.

CMS will then take the data and video collected to develop a performance task project that will match the NC Standard Course of Study objectives in the field of physics for high school students and science for 7th graders.