In this weeks column I am asking for your assistance. Not so much as an individual, rather if you belong to any club, organization, union, etc.
     I am asking that you read the resolution listed below and consider having your group vote on it and endorse it. The reason I am utilizing a resolution, rather than a proposition is expense — Props cost a great deal of money.
     I have held many titles here in Alpine; President of the Lions Club, Elected Alpine School Board Member, Little League manager and coach, AYSO coach, Vice President of the Pop Warner Alpine Mountaineers and Vice Chairman of the Alpine Planning Group, but the title I treasure above all else is Zachary Jannebergs’ Grandfather.
     As many readers will remember, Zach was killed in a car accident in March of this year. Reports from the scene determined that inexperience behind the wheel may have played a large role in his accident. This was the impetus for writing Zach’s Resolution
     I am driven to see that many other young boys and girls have a more intensive driver instruction program before they take to the roads. Below, you will see the resolution I have presented to all of our local school boards for their approval and signatures.
     Please forward all approved resolutions to me so that I may forward them to the state as well as Assemblyman Joel Anderson and Senator Dennis Hollingsworth.

Zach’s Resolution
SUBJECT OF RESOLUTION: That driver education classes be returned to ALL public high schools with a minimum of 40 hours “behind the wheel” as well as the 30 hours of classroom. These classes may be added as an elective.

SUBMITTED TO: The California State Legislature and the California Department of Public Education.

SUBMITTED BY: Your Group or Organization

WHEREAS, In the last reportable year, 594 drivers between the ages of 15 and a half and 18 were fatally injured in California in 2005;

WHEREAS, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a report that indicated states with the toughest laws governing teenage driving reduced death rates for 16 year olds by up to 21% while states with less restrictive laws reduced by up to 11%;

WHEREAS, A study from Johns Hopkin University states the following provisions have the greatest impact among teen survivability:

Age requirements for learner permits, intermediate and full driver’s licenses.
Supervised driving of hours of 30 or more.
Passenger restrictions while teen is driving.
Three-month waiting period for teen to obtain their intermediate license.
Night-time driving restrictions.

     “We already knew that the programs reduced crash rates of young drivers,” says Johns Hopkin professor Susan Baker and lead author of the above study, ‘but we didn’t know which programs were most effective.” Currently 19 states have all the listed provisions on the books;

WHEREAS, Although, Today, Driver Education and Driver Training courses must be conducted as prescribed by the Department of Education. Driver Education must consist of at least 30 hours or 2 1/2 semester periods of professional classroom instruction. Driver training must consist of at least six hours of behind-the-wheel professional instruction; which is under the recommended minimums;

WHEREAS, although, professional schools and instructors in California are licensed by the DMV. Schools must carry liability insurance, be bonded, and maintain complete records for DMV inspection. Their teaching cars are subject to inspection every 6 months. Instructors must pass qualifying examinations every three years, or show proof of continuing education in traffic safety. These qualifications do not take the place of the additional classroom and behind the wheel hours recommended;

WHEREAS, Parents are currently paying 400 to 600 dollars for the private driving schools which in many cases are “fudging” on the amount of time they spend with their students;

WHEREAS, Zachary was able to completely master the written tests but had a very minimal amount of experience behind the wheel under diverse driving surfaces and conditions”;

WHEREAS, High school driver education programs may be able to be funded, in part, by a combination of parent fees and additional funding from the insurance companies licensed to do business in California as well as a deep discount from the American automobile manufacturers for the training cars;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That driver education classes be returned to ALL public high schools with a minimum of 40 hours “behind the wheel” as well as the 30 hours of classroom. These classes may be added as an elective.

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the DMV should require that a child between 15 and a half and 18 have a driver education completion certificate from a state public high school before issuing a drivers license.

     If you would like to have a copy of this resolution to present to your organization, please feel free to contact me. Together, with time, we can make this happen and perhaps save our children from injury or death.

     Chuck Taylor is an Alpine resident and former school board member. He may be reached via e-mail at teefertaylor@yahoo.com or by phone at 251-6998. Class Action is an opinion column written for The Alpine Sun. Opinions stated within are those of the writer, and not necessarily the staff of the newspaper.