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Youth Safety Council Sponsors Teen Driver Skill Program

Tuesday August 15, 2006

  The Youth Safety Council of Vermont will sponsor three Teen Driver Skill Development Programs this fall at the Knapp Airport in Berlin. The training sessions are scheduled on the following Sundays: October 1st, October 8th and November 5th.

The program is aimed at 15 to 18 year-old students ad costs $200 for the half-day program. Parents are encouraged to enroll in the training program along with their teen driver. Students must have a learner's permit or drivers license to enroll and have a minimum of 15 hours of supervised driving experience prior to the training. Registrations are now being accepted for all sessions on a first come-first served basis.

Students may receive a $25 discount for taking the training if they agree to participate in the Youth Council's on-going study to determine the effectiveness of this type of training on new teen drivers. The study tracks their driving experience over a two-year period and students are also asked to complete pre- and post-training surveys. The study is being directed by the Vermont Center for Justice Research. In addition to the safety aspects of this course, some insurance companies offer a discount on their automobile insurance premium rate for drivers who complete this course.

Two sessions will be conducted each day with 13 participants enrolled in each session. Morning sessions will run from 8:00 to noon and afternoon sessions from 1:00 - 5:00. The training covers a variety of topics and hands-on exercises that include straight-line braking with ABS brakes, steering and maneuvering in emergency situations, how to avoid tailgate collisions, and presentations by experienced driving instructors on other related topics including the effects of alcohol, drugs, and being distracted from the safe operation of a motor vehicle. The training is being conducted by Stevens Advanced Driver Training from Merrimack, New Hampshire.

Co-operative Insurance Companies of Vermont, with headquarters in Middlebury, has offered this type of hands-on driving program to its members and to the public at large since 1997. Co-o officials indicate that the training has been extremely effective and advocates that every teenager should experience this type of training before or during the Graduated Licensing period. The company is confident that this training complements Vermont's traditional Driver Education programs and will help reduce teen crashes especially for the first year driver.

According to statistics from the Vermont Department of Public Safety, 19% of all motor vehicle accidents involve drivers in the 16-20 year old range, and 17 year-old drivers are the most likely age group to be involved in a motor vehicle crash.

“Driver training means safer drivers. Since crashes are the leading cause of fatalities for the youth of our country, we encourage every young driver to take advantage of any opportunity to learn to be safer on our roads.” Said Jeannie Johnson, Coordinator of the Vermont Governor's Highway Safety Program.

Tom Williams, Vermont Manager of AAA of Northern New England, also believes in this program. “As Vermont manager for AAA Northern New England, and member of the Youth Safety Council of Vermont, I support this pilot program as a way to complement and enhance traditional drivers education in the state.”

Chief Chris Morrell of the Hinesburg Police Department, who also is a member of the Youth Safety Council board, has discussed this program with many students who have participated. “In exit interview with previous students, the part that sold them was learning how it feels to deal with emergency situations when your adrenaline is pumping and you have only a few seconds to react.”

Space is limited and will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested parents and students seeking more information are invited to contact Renee Larocque at 1-800-388-6638, ext. 3399 or visit the Youth Safety Council of Vermont web site at vtyouthsafetycouncil.org

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