SAM sends student to “Survive the Drive”

Saratoga Springs, NY - Seth Warden, Education Director at the Saratoga Automobile Museum, announced that the museum sent Saratoga High School student Ben Stepanian of Wilton to the February 15, 2016 "Survive the Drive" program at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT. The popular program is designed to "improve crash prevention awareness" for drivers of all ages.

"Ben has volunteered at the museum for a number of years and has contributed his time and effort to both regular museum activities and special events like our May auto show," said Warden. "But beyond that, he is keenly interested in anything automotive and especially driving. He has extensive experience with our distracted driving simulators and is ready for the next step in his driving experience."

Stepanian's tuition for "Survive the Drive" was sponsored by SAM trustee Kevin Biebel of New Milford, CT, a longtime proponent of youth education.

The driving program is held on Lime Rock's infield driving instruction course, rain or shine, with snow and ice welcome additions to the layout. Students receive "hands on" instruction in capabilities and limitations of braking, turning and maneuvering using LRP's fleet of Audi school cars with a focus on skid prevention and recovery. Additionally, they receive instruction in tire technology, electronic driver aids and driver behaviors that contribute to crashes.

Since its founding in 1996, over 130,000 participants of all ages have enjoyed instruction through the "Survive the Drive" program.

Stepanian will be producing a story describing his experiences for an upcoming issue of the auto museum's Horsepower magazine.

The mission of the Saratoga Automobile Museum is to preserve, interpret and exhibit automobiles and automotive artifacts. We celebrate the automobile and educate the general public, students and enthusiasts regarding the role of the automobile in New York State and in the wider world. In addition to technical and design aspects, our educational focus is on the past, present and future social and economic impact of the automobile. With a strong focus on safety today on the roads. The Museum is chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York Department of Education as a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit institution. The Museum is a member of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and the National Association of Automobile Museums (NAAM).