Interactive classroom course aimed at teaching teens responsibility, accountability
September 12, 2011 – South Fallsburg, N.Y. – Rolling V Bus Corp and Gershowitz Transportation are proud to continue the tradition of promoting and executing its interactive classroom teen driver safety course Alive at 25 during the 2011-2012 school season.
Rolling V & Gershowitz sponsor Alive at 25 in its efforts to curb the alarming rate of teen vehicular fatalities in New York State and the country. Though individual school districts are required to set up the course at their respective high school, Rolling V is sponsoring the classes for school districts it provides transportation, and will cover the $40 course fee for students in school districts who decide to become venues for the Alive at 25 courses.
Rolling V & Gershowitz currently provide student transportation for Ellenville, Fallsburg, Liberty, Livingston Manor, Roscoe and Tri-Valley school districts.
Research shows that the ABSOLUTE safest way for kids to get back and forth to school is on a school bus, more and more kids are driving their own cars once they come of age. This new found independence creates an added hazard on our roads.
The companies started the local Alive at 25 program in 2007, following a double-fatal car crash involving two Livingston Manor teenagers- both classmates of Rolling V/Gershowitz President Phil Vallone’s sons. As a result, Rolling V started the program to provide an initiative for local schools to educate and train students who drive to school.
“Teen drivers tend to severely underestimate the dangers of the road,” said Vallone. “These courses are critical to public safety, and could help save the lives of those that represent the future- our children. We are certainly ecstatic to have our schools on board.”
Alive at 25, a driver’s awareness program created by and offered through the National Safety Council, utilizes traditional classroom techniques to teach young drivers to be aware of many of the typical driving hazards facing young motorists.
The course provides important information about the dangers facing young motorists and how to remain safe on the road. This course takes place in an interactive classroom setting, and includes instructional videos and class discussion.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the following are teen driving statistics related to only teen drivers in the U.S. during 2005.
- 4,544 teens ages 16 – 19 were killed due to injuries caused in car crashes
- 400,000 teens ages 16 – 19 required emergency hospital treatment for nonfatal injuries sustained in driving accidents
- Per mile, teen drivers ages 16 – 19 are four times more at risk to get in a car crash than any other age group
- 38% of Male drivers 15 – 20 involved in car accidents where speeding and 24% were under the influence of alcohol
- 23% of teen drivers ages 15 – 20 who died in car crashes had a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.08 g/dl or greater
- 3 out 4 teens killed while drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt
- Between 3 p.m. and midnight accounted for half of teen driving deaths – 54% on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Vallone added, “Our primary goal at Rolling V/Gershowitz has always been safety- get the kids to school safe, home safe, and do it again the next day. This supplemental program, Alive at 25, helps us move forward in achieving excellence in safety.”
Rolling V and Gershowitz are proud members of the New York School Bus Contractors Association and the American School Bus Council. The companies are family-owned and operated by the Vallone and DeSabato families. The Vallone family has been in the passenger transportation business for more than 50 years.
