LOS ANGELES, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Jul 22, 2008 -- Teens in Southern California have a new tool to help them become safe and knowledgeable drivers with a comprehensive guide published by the Automobile Club of Southern California. Released in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the state's Graduated Driver License (GDL) law this month, the booklet is intended to help novice drivers learn the basics of driving, owning and maintaining a car.

At the same time the 16-page Auto Club teen driver booklet is released, AAA plays a prominent role in a teen driver safety feature story in the upcoming August issue of Reader's Digest. The issue hits newsstands today. The story, called "Warning: Teen Drivers" is a special report that highlights the risks teen drivers pose to themselves and others.

The Auto Club booklet, "When You're Ready for the Road," is available at all Auto Club member service offices. The guide also is being offered to teen driver graduates of the Auto Club Driving School and through repair facilities and dealers associated with the Auto Club.

The guide highlights for teens and their parents the GDL law, safe driving skills, the new cell phone laws, reckless driving, street racing and underage drinking and driving consequences to help teens understand how rules of the road affect all drivers.

"While teens are growing in their driving skill, the Auto Club wants to prepare them to choose a car wisely, drive a car safely and maintain a car well so it carries them to school, work and leisure activities," according to Alice Bisno, Vice President of Government Relations & Community Affairs. "The booklet contains significant driving details that might not get passed on from parent to teen driver. Our teen driver guide helps bridge the gap."

The California-specific guide also covers basic automotive safety information from car buying and vehicle registration to car insurance. The booklet highlights car care tips for teens who may be driving a family car or using their own vehicle, but are unaware of how to care for it as well as car-related resources and services available to Auto Club members, Bisno said.

"Car crashes kill 5,000 teen-agers annually across the U.S. and 177 in our state in 2006," said Bisno. "By empowering teens with information, we aim to help them safely through all phases of vehicle ownership," she added. Parents also will find the guide useful in helping select a safe vehicle for their teen driver to use with a page dedicated to a new driver's first car, according to Bisno.

     Contact:
     Elaine Beno/Jeff Spring
     714-885-2333
      
     Headquarters:
     2601 South Figueroa Street
     Los Angeles, CA 90007
      
     Mailing Address:
     3333 Fairview Road
     Costa Mesa, CA 92626