AAA East Central, East Penn Region, is holding a free workshop, "Dare to Prepare," for parents and their pre-permit teens 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 11 at AAA East Central, East Penn Region, 2072 Downyflake Lane, Allentown.

Since crashes are the leading cause of death for teen drivers, AAA developed a program to help reduce teen crashes and also to help families prepare for the "learning-to-drive" process.

The program focuses on concepts and messages a teen may not normally receive during a traditional driver education course, such as: driving is a privilege; providing guidance to help parents and teens during the learning-to-drive process; Pennsylvania's graduated driver licensing law; peer pressure; teen crash statistics; insurance coverage; and parent-teen driving agreements.

The 90-minute program is not intended to replace driver's education or even to substantially overlap such a course. Instead, it is a supplementary program designed to facilitate early discussion of driving safety issues and to be delivered before teens receive their learner's permit. The program is intended to increase teens' total exposure to traffic safety messaging throughout their career as developing drivers.

A study by the National Institutes of Health suggests parental involvement and restrictions significantly reduce risky driving behavior during a driver's first 12 to 18 months behind the wheel.

Space is limited. RSVP to AAA East Central, East Penn Region's Public Affairs department at 610-434-5141.