United Four Wheel Drive Associations
An International Organization

PROGRAMS - 4WD Awareness

Mission Statement
To instill responsible off-highway driving skills through education and instruction to novice 4-wheel drive vehicles owners.

Background
The United Four Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA) and it's regional and state 4WD drive associations realized back in 1991 that there was a need for 4WD education clinics. Borrowing from existing programs of California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs and Arizona State Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, the United Awareness program was developed in 1993 and has trained and introduced thousands of students to the exciting family oriented sport of 4 wheeling. These clinics are now a reality and have taught thousands of novice four wheelers on the components of their 4x4 vehicle, proper off-highway driving techniques, proper vehicle recovery, courtesies related to 4-wheeling, and accents environmental awareness by way of the Tread Lightly! philosophy.

4WD Awareness Program
All United program instructors are experienced 4-wheelers and required to meet certain qualifications such as: No DUI's, Have a minimum of three (3) years of off-highway driving, Certified in basic REDCROSS First Aid and CPR, Member of good standing with their local club and UFWDA association, and Attend the UFWDA 4WD Instructors course.

The 4WD clinic will educate you on the basic components of a 4x4 vehicle, explain the benefits of the different type of off-highway tires and accessories, provide you with information on Off Highway Recreation Areas, learn vehicle recovery techniques, cover the benefits of belonging to organized 4x4 clubs and Associations like Southern Four Wheel Drive and United Four Wheel Drive Associations and much more. But most importantly, you'll learn how to drive your vehicle off-highway over hills, ravines, ruts, rocks, logs, through water holes, and stream crossings without doing damage to you, your vehicle, and the environment.

The 4WD clinic usually run from 9:00 AM -- 6:00 PM and consists of classroom and parking lot instruction in the morning, and in the afternoon, you'll be on the trail negotiating off-highway trail obstacles under the supervision of a UFWDA Instructor. On the trail, 1 instructor will be responsible for instructing and guiding three (3) student vehicles. Most clinics average 12 students, so we can provide lower student to instructor ratio.

For More Information
If you have a four-wheel drive and always wanted to know how to drive off-highway the right way, then the United Four Wheel Drive 4WD Awareness Clinics are for you. For more information on clinics coming up near you, or to arrange a course in your area, contact UFWDA 4WD Program Awareness Coordinator at 4WDAwareness@UFWDA.ORG.