Teens Can Improve Driving Skills in DRIVE Class

Teens needing extra driving experience may build their skills by taking the Rutherford County School Resource Officers’ DRIVE class, a school resource officer said.

The Defense Response Improving Vehicle Education program is geared to teens ages 16-19, said SRO Chad Dodson, who is the DRIVE coordinator. Students receive personal training from Sheriff’s Office driving instructors on both the classroom and the driving experience, preferably with the vehicle they intend to drive.

Classes include three hours of classroom training from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and a driving course from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday to complete the class.

Courses will be Oct. 20-21, Nov. 17-18, Jan. 26-27, Feb. 16-17, March 16-17, April 27-28 and May 18-19.

The Friday classes are held at Lascassas Elementary School with the driving course location announced during the first class.

“The goal of DRIVE focuses on educating teen drivers by increasing awareness of the adverse conditions and situations that contribute to teen crashes,” Dodson said. “This class is for teen drivers beginning to drive or those who want to improve their driving skills.”

Driving exercises include evasive maneuvers, parallel parking, threshold emergency braking, forward and reverse serpentine, backing, cornering and angled parking.

Students interested in taking the course should contact Oakland Middle School SRO Dodson at 615-396-7342 to register. Cost is $55 with checks written to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Teens must show their valid driver’s license and proof of insurance and provide a safe vehicle for the driving course.