Smith System 2005 Corporate Conference Highlights New Driver Training Products and Services
- Brings together trainers, corporate staff, sales team from around the country -
Arlington, TX –January 29, 2005 Smith System, the leader in professional driver training, held its 2005 Corporate Conference on January 5 to 8, 2005, to announce new products and celebrate its success. The conference, held at the company’s headquarters in Arlington, Texas, brought together more than 70 professional trainers from around the country with corporate and sales staff. The proceedings included executive management presentations, new driver training products, sales training and on-road coaching workshops.

Smith System employees previewed the company’s innovative Reaction and Pre-Action Zones concept that inspired a new approach to training and related videos focusing on the core driving fundamentals of space, visibility and time. These basic concepts underlie the proven “Five Keys to Space Cushion Driving” developed by Harold Smith, founder of the Smith System. The Reaction Zone involves creating space around the vehicle, which improves visibility to give drivers time to react to safety hazards. The Pre-Action Zone emphasizes looking far ahead as well as behind to prepare drivers for possible future hazards.

“The average driver has a small reaction zone and no pre-action zone because they don’t look ahead and prepare,” said Jim Smith, vice president of training for Smith System. “Because of this, they have little time to make a decision when an incident occurs, which leads to collisions. This new course and video will emphasize these simple yet powerful concepts that are the foundation of safe driving habits.”

Other courses for 2005 include the Smith System Backing Course and the Smith System Instructor Self-Audit Course. Improper backing is a common error that can cause significant vehicle damage. This new course includes classroom instruction and on-the-road training on when and how to back safely, and how to avoid backing when possible. The new Smith System Instructor Self-Audit Course gives customers the tools to audit their Smith System certified instructors to ensure they are effectively delivering the Smith System training methods.

“Our customers continue to tell us that nothing replaces “on-road” training for achieving significantly improved safety results,” said Tony Douglas, president and CEO of Smith System. “Our training programs continue to evolve to meet customers’ changing needs, while still focusing on the basic concepts that have proven to deliver bottom line results for over 50 years. We are looking forward to another great year of improving driving safety for commercial fleets and adding value for our clients.”

At the conference Smith System trainers also reviewed the many Smith System online training programs, the SmithSAFE fleet monitoring program, and worked with training auditors to sharpen their classroom and on-road coaching techniques. The conference included a meeting with international trainers to discuss the unique challenges of adapting to local customs. Smith System has delivered driver training in 54 countries and in 24 languages around the world, on all continents except Antarctica.
For a full list of videos, training aids, and courses, call Smith System at 800-777-7648 or visit www.smith-system.com.

About Smith System
Smith System Driver Improvement Institute, Inc. was founded in 1952 as the nation's first fleet driver safety training organization with on-road, hands-on safety education techniques for experienced drivers. Smith System delivers behind the wheel instruction to more than 15,000 fleet drivers each year and has presented their program in 47 countries. In the past decade, Smith has provided services to more than half of the current Fortune 500® fleets and is the only company in the industry that guarantees the quality of their training. In addition to its on-road training and extensive video and DVD library, the company offers web-based education and fleet monitoring.

Media Contacts:
Frank Powers
Smith System
800-777-7648

Valerie Chereskin
Chereskin Communications
760-942-3116