Teenage drivers are involved in fatal traffic accidents at more than twice the rate of the rest of the U.S. population, and motor vehicle crashes still remain the leading cause of death among teens. Committed to battling these statistics, Toyota is continuing its hands-on, national teen and parent advanced driving skills program, "Toyota Driving Expectations," in 2008.

Offered free of charge in cities across the country, the program goes beyond what is taught in typical driver training classes by putting teens behind the wheel to face challenging, real-world scenarios under the supervision of professional drivers. It is also one of the only programs of its kind that hosts teens and their parents so they can learn how to drive more safely together. Safety is a priority for Toyota, and the program's curriculum addresses the fact that the best safety features in any moving vehicle are the mind and hands of the driver.

Each four-hour Toyota Driving Expectations program begins with an opening session for all participants where they are introduced to the privilege and risk associated with driving as well as the program's curriculum, which includes driving courses and classroom-style sessions with tailored content on a broad range of driving-related topics. The driving courses help teens practice how to best keep their eyes on the road, learn about how anti-lock braking systems work on both wet and dry roads and demonstrate how everyday distractions, to which new drivers are especially prone, can have unexpected, hazardous effects