When the “Alive At 25” program makes its way to DuPage County this fall, students will not be the only ones learning defensive driving skills.
The National Safety Council and Colorado State Patrol are piloting a new program for parents so they can assist their young student drivers.
Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Darien, Westmont and Oak Brook have been chosen as the first communities in Illinois and the Midwest to participate in the “Alive at 25” program.
The course has been successful in Colorado, where it originated teaching drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 how to take responsibility for their actions behind the wheel.
As students go through the course, the NSC has decided it is important to have a parallel course for parents.
To help give feedback on the program before it launches in September, the Clarendon Hills Police Department hosted the first ever class for parents Thursday night. NSC representatives and program leaders from across the country attended the meeting and worked with 16 parents throughout the five communities.
“It was a very intent group that was dedicated to doing what they could to make it a more positive program,” Clarendon Hills Police Chief Patrick Anderson said.
The meeting lasted more than three hours, as parents learned about the program and gave feedback.
Hinsdale resident Susan Pircon, who has five children — including a 17-year-old and one that will be 16 in September — thought the information was “phenomenal.”
“Parenting skills for teenagers is really important, and I think it’s going to be really successful,” Pircon said.
Darien resident and mother of four children Gloria Anderson also enjoyed the program. Her daughter, Heather, will be taking driver’s education at Hinsdale South High School this fall.
“It was excellent, and I learned a lot about defensive driving,” Anderson said. “You can teach your children all the correct ways of doing things, but if someone else comes along who isn’t doing the right thing, you want to make sure your child can react to that situation.”
Since this is a pilot program, Anderson suggested the NSC continue to follow the students and parents who take the course during the years to see how it impacted their driving skills.
As council members return home to fine tune the new program, police officers from the five departments are being certified to teach parents and students. The intensive 40-hour course began Monday.
