The Catskill Chronicle

In 2007 Livingston Manor students were able to experience a driving simulator. – Leni Santoro photos

LIBERTY – Each year students die or become seriously injured as a result of driving or being a passenger in a vehicle. This is a statistic that the “Not One More” Program is hoping to reduce with the development of an expanded safe teen driving initiative to include a driving simulator program.

Reality dictates that students do not have enough seat time behind the wheel to become experienced enough to handle the various hazards that arise while driving. Add into the equation, fast cars and drinking and you have a formula for disaster.

Right now only a few of the school districts within Sullivan County offer driver’s education to a limited group of students. With the fiscal climate the way it is, a lot of the school districts who at one time offered drivers education during the year, are now forced to reduce it to a summer school program or eliminate it altogether. Fortunately through the efforts of Phil Vallone, Rolling V Bus Company and Alan Kesten, Yellow Cab and Manny Safer( right), instructor, the school districts are able to provide the Alive at 25 Program but that is not enough! In order to make a difference the students have to have as many tools as possible to help them get enough training to handle the circumstances and responsibility that come with sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

The Not One More” Committee of Sullivan County is working with Sullivan BOCES, local school districts, and the United Way of Sullivan County to purchase driver simulators to develop a comprehensive educational program that promotes safe teen driving, so that Not One More high school student is seriously injured or killed as a driver or passenger in a vehicle.

Why Driving Simulators?

Including a driver simulator into an existing driver’s education or driver’s safety program will increase the effectiveness of the overall program. The driver simulator provides lesson-based instruction that requires students to demonstrate skills and knowledge of safe driving without the hazards of being on the road.

Simulators safely put drivers in dangerous driving scenarios without the risk of injury. The simulators also provide students with individual records for each “driver” allowing the students to see progress as they improve their driving skills. The simulators are portable and can be shared by schools.

Before this effort can be rolled out, the committee needs to raise enough money to purchase the driver simulators. The simulators cost approximately $11,000 per unit. Sullivan County BOCES has taken on the role of spearheading the effort to raise funds for the purchase of the units. Once they have raised enough money, BOCES will then coordinate the use of the machines with the school districts. With the help of the United Way of Sullivan County and the local school districts the committee is hoping to purchase at least one unit to be used in the 2010-2011 school year.

Goals of the “Not One More” Program…

1. To help prevent student deaths or injury as a result of driving accidents in Sullivan County.

2. To raise enough money to purchase several driver simulators to use throughout Sullivan County.

3. To work with school districts, Alive at 25, and private instructors to create a comprehensive training program that allows every student to receive sufficient driver safety training.

The History of the “Not One More” Program

The “Not One More” Program was launched by the Times Herald-Record (THR) in June 2006, in response to a number of fatal crashes in the Hudson Valley. The effort started with a media campaign to heighten awareness about the importance of teen safety while driving. “Not One More” Forums in High Schools were held to educate, persuade and motivate teen drivers and their parents to drive safely. Community organizations which consisted of concerned citizens joined to promote safe teen driving. The initial diverse group included: Sullivan & Orange County Government, Sullivan BOCES, Orange-Ulster BOCES, Orange County United Way, Times Herald Record, New York State Police, local PTA/PTOs, School Resource Officers and other concerned citizens. Today the initiative is being established in the surrounding four counties.

Help make a difference for our future! Contribute to the “Not One More Fund” and be part of an initiative that will keep our teens alive.

How Can You Help?

If you would like to make a monetary contribution towards the purchase of a driver simulator please contact: Kaytee Warren, Chief Professional Officer, Sullivan County United Way (845) 794-1771 or e-mail unitedwaysullivan@verizon.net

If you would like to volunteer to become a member of the steering committee please contact: Donna Hemmer, Director of Communications, Sullivan County BOCES (845) 295-4011 or e-mail dhemmer@scboces.org

*Watch The Catskill Chronicle in the coming weeks for more about the Alive at 25 Program.