Over 50 percent of new drivers are involved in a car crash within a year of getting their driver’s license.
According to the National Traffic Safety Academy’s Web site, over 85 percent of drivers getting their license this year will be involved in a crash within the first two years of having their license. The academy and the Dothan Police Department offer courses for teenagers in crash avoidance training. The classes are offered monthly to new motorists age 16 to 19.
Paul Burris, the director of the Collision Avoidance Training program at the academy, said the course teaches the skills for teens to react property in an emergency situation.
Cpl. Lee Nelms, a Dothan police traffic division supervisor and course instructor, said the class helps teach teens how to avoid crashes.
“Inexperience is what causes the majority of the teenage wrecks,” Nelms said. “We’re trying to give them a little more experience on how to react to a crash.”
Burris said the 12 hour, two-day course typically starts on a Friday night with about four hours in a classroom at the Dothan Police Department. It’s followed up by eight hours on Saturday of field work in the vehicle with an instructor.
Burris said the class also teaches the teenagers to scan the roadway at least four to six vehicle lengths ahead and behind their car.
“If you’re scanning you’re going to pick up the blue lights on the side of the road and move over in time,” Burris said. “A good driver spends less than 60 percent of the time looking ahead.”
Each class comes with a $100 fee. Burris said insurance companies are giving discounts for completion of the driving class. He said while the course is led by Dothan police officers it’s open to any new driver in the Wiregrass. The next available classes are April 9 and 10 and May 7 and 8.
“It’s a cheap investment,” Burris said. “We’re teaching them driving skills they’ll use for the rest of their life.”
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