SANFORD — Prompted by sobering statistics about teenage traffic accidents and deaths, the Seminole County School Board is expanding its drivers-education program for students.
Starting in January, after-school courses will be offered at Lyman and Winter Springs high schools. If the program is a success, it may be extended to other high schools.
For the past several years, drivers education has been available only during summer school. But many students who wanted to take the summer course were being turned away. While about 5,000 Seminole students turn 15 each year and are eager to drive, summer-school classes have about 1,000 slots.
“There was not any question of the need for the program. The statistics are alarming,” said School Board member Dede Schaffner, who led a committee that came up with the expanded drivers education.
Statistics gathered by MetroPlan Orlando, the transportation-planning organization for the Orlando urban area, show that drivers 15 through 19 account for 13 percent of car accidents in Seminole County, though they make up 6.5 percent of the driving population.
That exceeds the accident rate for teens in Orange and Osceola counties.
The age group also accounts for 9.6 percent of traffic fatalities, according to MetroPlan.
School officials hope drivers education will reduce the accidents and deaths.
“We want to make sure we are equipping these kids with the knowledge and skills so they can go out on the road and be safe drivers,” said Mary Lane, who is in charge of drivers education for county schools.
Each school will have four classes of 30 students, with each meeting for two hours, twice a week, during a semester. During the two-year pilot program, nearly 1,000 students will have training.
The summer program will continue, but Lane said the after-school courses will be better.
Summer school crams drivers education into 12 days. The semester course will give students more time to digest what they have learned — and to practice driving and get feedback from instructors.
Students will get classroom instruction on driving rules and safety in the after-school course, just as they do in summer school.
They also will use driving simulators — classroom computers set up like cars with a steering wheel and brakes. Students must follow driving instructions as well as respond to unexpected events, such as someone dashing into the street.
They also will practice driving in the school parking lot.
The after-school courses also will add driving experience on neighborhood streets around the school. Summer school did not have the time or instructors needed for that.
Longwood and Winter Springs city governments each have agreed to donate six cars for the courses. They will be equipped with dual brake sets so the instructor can stop the car if necessary.
Superintendent Bill Vogel has said after-school drivers education might be extended to other schools if the test at Lyman and Winter Springs works out.
Cost is a problem, though.
Just having the extra drivers-ed courses at the two schools for two years will cost $689,000.
The county and cities of Altamonte Springs, Longwood and Winter Springs are helping pay for the pilot program, and a share of fines from traffic tickets will cover some of the expense.
But district officials say more partners would be needed to expand the program countywide.
