Orange County Offers Free Teen Driving Safety Training
Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for young people aged 16 to 20, but some forward-thinking people in Orange County are trying to change this fact. The Florida Safety Council announced recently that high school students in Orange County would be able to apply for free driver training. This free training will include six hours of behind-the-wheel driving lessons in traffic and driver education classroom courses.
“We actually take them out to the expressway. We don’t cut them loose until they’ve driven in traffic on I-4 and the 408 expressway,” said Glenn Victor, Florida Safety Council spokesperson.
“A lot of the things we teach students are different than when you and I learned to drive. For example, when you put your hands on the steering wheel, most of us were taught the 10 and 2 o’clock position. But now, because of air bags in vehicles [in the steering wheel], we’re told the 9 and 3 o’clock position because at 10 and 2, a lot of times people will have jewelry, such as a wristwatch. That bag’s coming out at 150 mph in one second, and when you have your hands at the 10 and 2, that wristwatch could hit me in the face, scratch my face up. At 9 and 3, my hands are more likely to go to the sides,” Victor said.
In order to take advantage of the free training, a student will need to speak with their high school academic advisor. When they enroll for the classroom part of the training, they will receive a $260 voucher for the driving lessons paid for by the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act, which allows Florida counties to add $5 in extra fines to traffic tickets to pay for driver’s education.
“Representative Slosberg lost his daughter in a tragic car accident. He then committed his life to traffic safety,” Victor said.
Every high school student in Orange County is eligible to participate in the program. Each student will receive high school credit for participating and completing the driver’s safety course.
“When someone learns a new sport, they don’t pick up basketball on the first day. We are thrilled to see this program in place so, hopefully, we [do not have to] go to another crash where a new driver caused a new driver mistake,” said Sgt. Kim Montes, Florida Highway Patrol.
Orlando auto accident attorney James O. Cunningham fully supports this young driver safety-training program. He has represented the families of countless young people hurt or killed in auto accidents. Call James. O. Cunningham today if you need to speak with an experienced Orlando auto accident lawyer.
