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Driving Class An Eye-Opener

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By HAROLD VALENTINE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2007

Updated: 10/25/2007 06:57 pm

CARROLLWOOD - It has been said: Driving is the most dangerous daily activity for most people.

Soon, however, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will offer a program that may tilt the odds toward safer driving.

The Teen Driver Challenge - a pilot program - is designed to make teens understand how dangerous driving can be, even at moderate speeds.

Applications are being accepted by the sheriff's office for drivers 15 to 20 years old with unrestricted driver's licenses and a car they may use. J.D. Callaway, the sheriff's department's public information officer, said the free classes will take only 10 students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each challenge has two dates, one for classroom learning and a second for driving. The classroom portion will be 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 8 at 2200 Falkenburg Road in Brandon, and the driving segment is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Walter C. Heinrich Practical Training Site, 14603 State Road 39 in Lithia.

Another course starts Nov. 29 at the same places and times.

'It'll be an eye-opener for some of these student drivers,' Callaway said.

If the program is a success, Callaway said future dates likely will be added.

The sheriff's office is holding the challenge in conjunction with the Florida Sheriff's Association, which helped to design the program.

Callaway said because the program is new to Hillsborough and only a handful of other counties in Florida have held it, including Hernando, it's difficult to measure the success.

'But we like to think that if we're saving one life it's all worth it,' he said.

Callaway said the classroom portion features a variety of facts and a more textbook-style of learning. He said the driving portion is what 'really hits home.'

Driving exercises include evasive maneuvers, cornering, backing, emergency braking, off-road recovery and serpentine moves.

Although the class will reach a small percentage of teen drivers who may have been well-taught compared with other youths, Callaway said he hopes the class is well-received so more teens can experience the class.

•Parts of Carrollwood, in Original Carrollwood and Carrollwood Village, will experience construction in February in a county effort to slow drivers in areas experiencing excessive speeding. Basic construction has begun north of Busch Boulevard, south of Fletcher Avenue and east of Dale Mabry Highway.

In Lake Magdalene, between Tara Grove Drive and Bearss Avenue, Cherry Creek Drive and Smitter and Clark roads are getting raised intersections. The work is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In the same neighborhood, curb-and-gutter work is being done at Balsawood Place until Friday.

In Lutz, road resurfacing may slow traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Nov. 3.

The work at Waters Avenue and Anderson Road will continue between rush hours until Feb. 13.

TEEN DRIVER CHALLENGE

WHAT: Two classes, one a classroom and another with driving, designed to make teenagers safer drivers

WHEN: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 8 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 10; 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 29 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 1

WHERE: 2200 Falkenburg Road in Brandon and 14603 State Road 39 in Lithia

REGISTRATION: Forms may be downloaded at hcso.tampa .fl.us and must be notarized. They may be mailed to P.O. Box 3371, Tampa FL 33601

TRAFFIC CONCERNS?

Are there local traffic or road issues that concern you? Construction projects you wonder about, or hazards other drivers should know about? If so, contact reporter Harold Valentine at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine @tampatrib.com.

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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