Norman James, Manager of Project RoadSafe, a comprehensive driver safety program of the Associated General Contractors of Vermont has been recognized by the National Safety Council as an Instructor of the Year for 2015.
The NSC said that James was recognized out of 9,000 NSC-certified instructors across the country, for his dedication, leadership and commitment for teaching their Alive at 25 program to junior and senior high school students enrolled at Vermont Technical Career Centers.
“We take the Alive at 25 program to the Technical Career Centers in Vermont because many students have chosen professions in which, as a part of their employment, they will be driving for work. We strive to introduce attitude as the component that will drive their behavior on the road,” he said.
The National Safety Council describes the Alive at 25 program as “a highly-interactive course that helps young adults take greater responsibility for their driving by focusing on behavior, judgment, and decision making.”
“We are thrilled that Norm has been recognized for his hard work in helping younger drivers understand the role that attitude and behavior play in being safe on our highways,” said Cathleen Lamberton, Executive Vice President of Associated General Contractors of Vermont. “There is no question that he is a strong advocate for safe teen driving. He has been very well received and has been requested to return to some of the Tech Centers.”
“Basically,” James said, “the program helps young drives understand consequences to their driving behavior with non-threatening and non-judgmental interactive discussions about taking responsibility and being in control of themselves. We usually are able to schedule class time, which is somewhat difficult given the four-hour time frame, in the fall or the spring. Both students and teachers have been receptive to this program.”
“Young drivers are at the top of the table of statistics that measure motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities,” he noted. “This program doesn’t necessarily ‘teach’ students how to drive – they learned that in Drivers’ Ed. This program helps young drivers understand there are consequences for unsafe behavior on the highway, and that that behavior is usually driven by ‘attitude.’
James said one of the major challenges facing drivers of all ages today is the double-edge sword of technology. “On the one hand, technology has made substantial progress toward motor vehicle safety. But, on the other, it has also created driver distractions. Crash avoidance features, lane departure sensors, and stabilizing controls are very important safety aspects, but disembodied voices reading e-mail or text messages is a distraction. Cell phone use, both voice and texting are very dangerous, as is visual GPS features,” he said.
“But perhaps one of the most important challenges facing the young driver of today, and perhaps tomorrow, is the seemingly indifference of adults to be effective role models,” he said. “All too often adults tell young drivers to ‘do as I say, not as I do,’ which is like saying ‘I can’t be bothered to be an effective role model for you.’”