Driven to distraction - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Felicia Nguyen considered herself an experienced, focused driver.

On Sunday she put her skills to the test under the watchful eye of race car driver Stephen Simpson and quickly learned just how easy it is to become distracted.

"Just hearing it in class, drivers ed class hearing it from your parents but actually experiencing it you really get a feel for the danger," said Nguyen.

Felicia was one of dozens of teens to experience the Miles Ahead program which teaches young drivers how to avoid distractions and drive defensively.

"We want to demonstrate to whoever wants to try that distractions don't work when we drive," said Miles Ahead Co-Founder and former Indycar Driver Stephen Gregoire.

Studies show teens are four times more likely to text while driving than adults but phones are just one of many distractions drivers deal with.

"I think for me its more of the radio, I'm singing and everything," said 16-year-old Sarah Curts who got her drivers license last week.

Her father Doug Curts says his daughter isn't his biggest worry.

"I'm more concerned about other drivers other teens around her. I think that she knows we think she knows to stay focused but we just hope and pray everyone is doing the right thing while they are out there," said Curts.

The co-founder of Miles Ahead Ted Woerner says while it's great to have race car drivers to show kids the dangers of distracted driving, but the best way to teach young drivers is to lead by example.

"The parents have a real role to play cause you have to set the tone and set an example you can't tell your kids to be doing one thing if you're not doing the same thing," said Woerner.

Sunday's mini lesson in a Mini Copper left teen drivers eager to put the phones away in the car. A practice which just might save a life.