TEEN DRIVER CHALLENGE
Sheriff Campbell is committed to the safety of the community to include our most precious commodity, our youth. As a result, he has implemented a number of programs directing the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office to provide education and training to protect them. These programs have targeted issues that concern parents, and now Sheriff Campbell is offering a new program specifically designed for the teen driver. The program is known as “The Teen Driver Challenge". The Challenge is backed by the Florida Sheriff’s Association and supported by the Sheriff.
The Teen Driver Challenge is the result of a committee assembled by the Florida Sheriff’s Association, including law enforcement driving instructors from around the state and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
The committee identified that 25% to 30% of teen drivers will be involved in a crash during the first year of driving. Traffic crashes are the NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG TEENS and cause billions of dollars in loss annually.
The Teen Driver Challenge is an effective program providing information and first hand experience. If confronted with emergency situation students who complete this course will have the knowledge and skills to react accordingly and reduce the chance of becoming a statistic.
With those statistics alone it was imperative that the committee address ways to reduce the risk our teens have in driving and build a program to provide instruction by Florida Department of Law Enforcement Certified Driving Instructors.
The Teen Driver Challenge is NOT an advanced driving course. It is a DEFENSIVE DRIVING PROGRAM that covers the following topics and driving exercises.
Topics {4 hours – Classroom}
- Vehicle Dynamics
- Human Factors
- Responsibility
- Liability
- Drug and Alcohol Use
- Night Driving
- Aggressive Driving and Road Rages
Driving Exercises {8 hours – Driving Range}
- Threshold, ABS, and Emergency Braking
- Evasive Maneuvers
- Cornering
- Backing
- Forward and Reverse Serpentine
- Figure 8
- Off Road Recovery
- Skid Control
UPCOMING TRAINING SESSIONS FOR THE TEEN DRIVER CHALLENGE WILL BE POSTED SOON.
Requirements to Attend:
- Child must be between the ages of 16-19,
- have a valid Florida Drivers License,
- have access to a safe vehicle.
- The vehicle operated must have proof of insurance.
- Child and Parent must sign a waiver of liability prior to taking this course.
The classroom sessions will be held at the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in the Citizens Academy Classroom. The practical will be held at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Driving Range.
The following forms are required by each student. Please download and complete prior to attending the course:
“Sign up early because Class size is limited!” Please contact your local high school SRD or Sgt. Annaliese Wierenga for more information.
Sgt. Wierenga can be reached at (850) 921-3602 or wierenga@leoncountyfl.gov
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