Toyota Expands National Teen Safe Driving Program With Dealership And High School Outreach

  Toyota Expands National Teen Safe Driving Program With Dealership And High
                               School Outreach

Toyota Driving Expectations Program Has Reached Nearly 20,000 Teens and
Parents Since 2004

- Toyota's popular advanced teen driving skills program is expanded with
dealer safety clinics, online program and interactive high school
presentations

- Program focuses on defensive driving skills and the dangers of distracted
driving

- Registration for driving programs is open at
www.toyotadrivingexpectations.com

- Visit http://pressroom.toyota.com/video_display.cfm?video_id=19972 to view
program documentary

PR Newswire

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 13, 2012

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Building upon the eight-year
success of its behind-the-wheel safety workshops, Toyota announces the
expansion of its national advanced teen driving skills program, Toyota Driving
Expectations, through partnerships with high schools and local dealerships as
well as continuing its popular online safety program.

Toyota established the free safe teen driving program in 2004 to supplement
standard driving education courses with real-time opportunities to learn about
defensive driving, the impact of distractions, and safe habits. The original
2.5-hour course involves both driving time and classroom discussions, and is
unique for requiring the participation of a parent or guardian to support
coaching within the family so they can continue to act as role models and
teachers at home. Nearly 20,000 teens and parents have participated in the "On
the Road" Toyota Driving Expectations program which was among the first to
understand the importance of and include parents in safe driving programs for
teen drivers.

New this year, National Hot Rod Association driver Erica Enders will headline
interactive safe teen driver assemblies at 12 select Los Angeles area and
Orange County high schools. Enders will share her experiences as the first
woman to qualify No. 1 in the association's Pro Stock Field and the importance
of concentration while driving. "The Road Ahead" assembly also engages
students with high-impact video and a hands-on driving simulator which
demonstrates dangers of driver distractions.

The third prong of the program includes free safety clinics at select Toyota
dealerships in the spring covering vehicle dynamics and safety features,
defensive driving, distracted driving and the importance of vehicle
maintenance. This program offers parents and teens an opportunity to learn
safe driving tips by professional instructors in a non-sales environment
inside their local Toyota dealerships.

Finally, the Toyota Teen Driver program offers teens, parents and educators
across the country access to free information and resources at
www.toyotateendriver.com. The program also includes the Toyota Teen Driver
Video Challenge and Educator Challenge, which offers teachers and students the
opportunity to win prizes and scholarships by showing a commitment to safety.
The online content and tools were created in partnership with Discovery
Education.

Together, these four programs highlight Toyota's commitment to safety behind
the wheel and arming teens with life-saving skills. National data shows young
drivers are more likely to be in crashes and be killed than more experienced
drivers, and are the least likely to wear seatbelts or have their passengers
wear them.

Further underscoring its commitment to safe teen driving, Toyota is conducting
research to evaluate the effectiveness of an electronic coaching and
monitoring system for newly licensed teenage drivers to help reduce unsafe
driving behaviors. The research is being conducted by Toyota's Collaborative
Safety Research Center (CSRC), which is based in Michigan. Launched in January
2011, the CSRC's mission is to serve as a catalyst for the advancement of auto
safety involving the vehicle, driver and traffic environment.

For fall 2012, the "On the Road" Toyota Driving Expectations events will be
held at the following locations:

  o Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Tenn., September 29*
  o Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) Plant in Georgetown,
    Ky., October 6-7
  o Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem, Pa., October 13-14
  o Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., October 20-21

  * Denotes special event; by invitation only.

Participants must be between the ages of 15-19 with a valid driver's license
or learner's permit, and be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  Online
registration is currently open at www.toyotadrivingexpectations.com. 

Taught by professional drivers, the curriculum for Toyota Driving Expectations
was developed in partnership with multiple organizations committed to safe
driving, including the National Safety Council and the Defensive Driving
Academy in California.

Quote

"The ultimate goal of the Toyota Driving Expectations program is for teens to
develop responsible daily driving habits and gain the skills to handle
challenging situations behind the wheel. These new elements of the Toyota
Driving Expectations program will expand safety knowledge to more teens and
parents, and ultimately make our roads safer for everyone."

- Michael Rouse, Toyota's vice president of diversity, philanthropy and
community affairs

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and
currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota directly employs over
30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than
$18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and
development, financial services and design.

Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where
it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term
sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the
country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota
has contributed over half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs in the
U.S. 

For more information on Toyota's commitment to improving communities
nationwide, visit http://www.toyota.com/philanthropy.

About National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries
and deaths at work, in homes, communities and on the roads, through
leadership, research, education and advocacy.

Toyota Contact:
Karen Polan
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
310-468-4861  
karen_polan@toyota.com

Media Contact:
Rebecca Lee
GolinHarris for Toyota
213-438-8827
rlee@golinharris.com

SOURCE Toyota

Website: http://www.toyota.com
Website: http://www.nsc.org
Website: http://www.toyotadrivingexpectations.com