Recognizing that safe driving is a learned behavior and is everyone’s responsibility, the school division is partnering with the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) to present the Partners for Safe Teen Driving program. The program is designed to educate parents and students about state and local laws governing new drivers as well as the school division’s behind-the-wheel driver’s education program offered in 10th grade.
The Partners for Safe Driving program also emphasizes parents’ important role in the learning process and monitoring of new drivers, noting that distracted driving continues to be an issue on the roads, especially for young drivers. The VBPD reports that more than 1,500 reported crashes last year involved drivers 15-20 years of age, and the most common causative factors of the crashes were found to be driver inattention, conversing with passengers, cellphone usage, focusing on roadside incidents and listening to the radio or music.
Parents and students are invited to attend the Partners for Safe Teen Driving program session scheduled for their high school. The session will involve school division Behind-the-Wheel instructors, 10th grade health and physical education teachers, school resource officers and school administrators.
For more information about the program, please contact your child’s high school or the Office of Secondary Teaching and Learning at 757-263-1070. The upcoming sessions are listed below:
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m.
Bayside and Princess Anne
Location: Princess Anne High School
Monday, Oct. 5, 6 p.m.
Green Run and Green Run Collegiate
Location: Green Run High School
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6 p.m.
Kellam and Ocean Lakes
Location: Ocean Lakes High School
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6 p.m.
Cox and First Colonial
Location: Cox High School
Thursday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m.
Landstown
Location: Landstown High School
Thursday, Oct. 29, 6 p.m.
Salem, Kempsville and Tallwood
Location: Tallwood High School