Service King Collision Repair Centers is teaming up with
Nationwide Insurance and NASCAR driver Brad Coleman to teach high school
students the consequences of distracted driving.
Students at H. Grady Spruce High School in Dallas, Texas,
will use a NASCAR simulator and try to drive while holding a cell phone that
will be getting a steady barrage of texts.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) show that 100,000 distracted driving accidents were
reported in 2009 in Texas, resulting in 408 fatalities.
"We see the effects of distracted driving in our
shops every day," said Service King President Cathy Bonner. "This is
business we don't want. We want to help improve the safety of our roads and
neighborhoods that we live in and serve."
H. Grady Spruce High School holds a special place in
Service King owner Eddie Lennox's heart. He graduated from there in 1971, and
when he heard the school was close to shutting down due to low Texas Assessment
of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores, he created a committee aimed at figuring
out what would be needed to keep the school and its auto body program running.
It was determined that tools, equipment, funding and scholarships was needed
for those students planning to go to college after graduation.
Service King Human Resources Director Mario Malacara
works closely with the school to provide these kinds of educational
opportunities.
"Over the years, Service King has had many success
stories about teammates who started in entry-level positions and have worked
hard to become master technicians or location managers," Malacara said.
"That's a message that we want to get through to the students – that this
career path can be a very lucrative one."
More information:
Service King Collision Repair Centers