On the evening of Nov. 6, students, parents, and faculty gathered in the theater to participate in the Start Smart Driving Course, taught by Officer Daniel Gilmore from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The course, coordinated by parents Tania Harrick and Emily Waterbury, aimed to teach students and parents about the risks of irresponsible driving.
“The purpose of our Start Smart class is to educate teen drivers on the dangers associated with poor choices behind the wheel of a vehicle, and to serve as a conversation starter between students and parents regarding the new responsibilities of driving on public roadways,” Officer Gilmore said.
During the class, Officer Gilmore shared personal anecdotes from his career, including video footage of a tragic car crash in Southern California that claimed the lives of five high school students. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the leading cause of death for Americans 16-20 years old is motor vehicle collisions. This discussion was meant to force students to face the reality of irresponsible driving choices.
“The California Highway Patrol’s goal is to reduce the death rate among teenagers caused by these collisions,” Officer Gilmore said.
The Start Smart driving course was primarily geared toward soon-to-be drivers to prepare them for the responsibility they must take on when operating a vehicle.
“I decided to attend to get a little more information about driving and the rules of the road before I get my permit … Driving is very dangerous and I learned a few tips to alleviate the stress,” sophomore Marley Vlieks said.
To incentivize participation, attendees of the class received a certificate from CHP that they could later present to their insurance company for lower rates. This event is reoccurring at Miramonte and has become increasingly popular in recent years.
“In the past, [the Start Smart Driving Course] has been held in the spring, but we decided to run it twice this year because there is always so much interest,” Harrick said.
Miramonte is planning to host the Start Smart driving course again this Spring for students who were not able to attend this past week.
“I think [the course] is important because Miramonte students need to know the dangers of reckless driving and how we can prevent it,” sophomore Micah Murdoch said.
More information about Start Smart can be found on their website.
