California Association for Safety Education Volume XVIII, Number 2 - June 2008

A NEW LOOK AT DRIVER EDUCATIONby Jerry Gaines CASE Governmental Relations Representative

Over the past several months, key governmental activity has taken place drawing attention to high school driver education and driver training. Proposed legislation is moving through the state Legislature that focuses on improving driver education in California.

For the past several months, California has been preparing its new Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) as required by federal legislation. The SHSP is complete and action is now being planned to implement its recommendations. On May 1 in Anaheim, SHSP was presented to the public in a traffic safety summit. Dr. Bill Cole, CASE Representative to the SHSP planning team, and I attended this summit.

The various Challenge Areas of the SHSP were presented in workshops grouped as Roadway Design and Safety, Public Awareness and Education, and High-Risk Behavior. Reducing Youthful Driver Deaths was part of the High-Risk Behavior workshop. Recommendations included seeking improvements to driver education and driver training, as well as extending initial road tests to include freeway driving.

During recent months State Senator Tom Torlakson (D) of Concord introduced SB 1114 which would establish a Young Driver Education and Safety Fund and Young Driver Education and Safety Advisory Group to in effect address recommendations made in the SHSP. The bill proposes to add $10 per the $27 application fee for a new or duplicate provisional license for new teen driver applicants.

The funds would be used for (1) covering expenses of a proposed advisory group formed to study driver education issues and (2) to fund a grant program to support free public high school driver education in interested high schools, giving priority to low income school communities. Both CASE and CTA would have seats on the proposed advisory group. The advisory group would report its findings to the state agencies (DMV & SDOE) and the Legislature by January 2012.

SB 1114 passed in the Senate on May 27 and was sent to the Assembly. Progress of the bill can be checked at www.leginfo.ca.gov

With the attention given to teen crashes by the SHSP (one of the State’s top three priorities) and such organizations as the California State Parent Teachers Association (one of their top three legislative priorities), there are significant efforts that may lead to real improvements in Driver Education.

Synopsis of SB 1114

1. Requires DMV to collect an additional fee of $10 for each provisional license application and for each duplicate license.

2. Creates the Young Driver Education and Safety Fund to support the Young Driver and Safety Fund Advisory Group and also fund automobile driver education and training in the public schools. The California Department of Education is to administer a grants program for school programs where priority will be given to public schools where a minimum of 40% of students are eligible for school lunch programs.

3. The advisory group is to be formed and funded under the direction of the Director of DMV and the Superintendent of Public Instruction and will include membership from fourteen organizations in traffic safety, enforcement, and education, including CASE, California Teachers Association, California Highway Patrol, Department of Motor Vehicles, California Department of Education, Automobile Club of Southern California, California State Automobile Association, and the Driving School Association of California.

4. The advisory group is to assess and recommend strategies to improve access to driver education and training, including potential sources of funding for programs.

5. Evaluate the effectiveness of current driver education and training standards and curriculum and recommend modifications to reduce the fatality rate of teens.

6. Review and make recommendations regarding the regulation of private, Internet-based driver education schools.

7. Report findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2012.

Richard Mikulik, Editor25 Shelbourne PlaceSan Mateo, CA 94402

E-mail: casemembership@sbcglobal.net

CASE Web Site:www.casewebsite.org

CASE Officers

Barbara Shiffermiller, PresidentP.O. Box 3736Riverside, CA 92519(909) 621-6781e-mail:barb@shiffermiller.net

John Knippel, Past President18121 Rose Ave.Bloomington, CA 92316(909) 877-2484e-mail: macbeverly@aol.com

Shannon Woods, President-Elect309 Alameda Blvd.West Sacramento, CA 95691(916) 375-7800e-mail: lienchingai@hotmail.com

James Lewis, 1st Vice President2303 Teasley St.La Crescenta, CA 91214(818) 957-5264e-mail: jlewis1118@aol.com

Trina Bega, 2nd Vice President4555 Grover Ct.Fremont, CA 94536(510) 742-5465e-mail: driversedtrina@yahoo.com

Larry Terrill, North Region Rep.P.O. Box 1184Portola, CA 96122(530) 832-4146e-mail: taterrill@sbcglobal.net

Larry Woodruff, South Region Rep.3608 York CircleLa Verne, CA 91750(909) 593-0563e-mail: law561@aol.com

Page 2

CASE NewsletterPublished by the California Association

for Safety Education

CASE CalendarJuly 17-19, 2008 - National Student Safety Program Conference, Settle Inn, Brandon, Missouri. Contact: 1-800 896-7703

July 27-30, 2008 - 52nd ADTSEA Conference, Hilton Fort Worth, Ft. Worth, Texas. Contact: ADTSEA, 1-800 896-7703

March 20-21, 2009 - 57th Annual CASE Conference, Delta King Riverboat, 1000 Front Street, Old Sacramento, CA. A registration form will be included in the September issue of the CASE Newsletter.

Teacher Preparation Courses

For information on Driver Education teacher prep courses in the Northern California and Riverside areas, contact Anna Maria Toma at UC Riverside School of Extended Education (951) 827-1661.

View Senate Driver Education Hearing on the Internet

CASE President-Elect Shannon Woods, Past President John Knippel, and Dr. Bill Cole participated in a Senate Informational Hearing on February 19. The proceedings of the Joint Hearing Select Committee on Schools and Community may be viewed via the Internet on the California Channel.

• Go to: www.calchannel.com • Click on webcast• Click on search archive• Type-in Driver Education in the Title/

Keyword space, select the video to be viewed, then click on submit

Depending on the speed of your computer and Internet connection, it may take several minutes to load before the video begins.

CASE Election Results

Results of the Spring CASE Election are as follows:

1st Vice President Jim Lewis2nd Vice President Trina BegaSouth Region Rep. Larry WoodruffNorth Region Rep. Kevin Tucker

2009 CASE Conference

The 2009 CASE Conference will take place at the Delta King Riverboat Hotel in Sacramento March 20 and 21.

Located in Sacramento’s Old Town, the Delta King floating hotel is moored in one of America's finest restored historical areas featuring world class museums, river front parks, galleries, over 200 shops and more than 30 restaurants. The State Capitol and the Amtrak terminal are both within easy walking distance.

The Pilothouse Restaurant is located on the third deck of the riverboat. It has spectacular views, with seating indoors or out. Chosen as “Best Spot on the River” by Sacramento Magazine readers and “Best Sunday Brunch” by readers of The Sacramento Bee, the Pilothouse is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Riverboat offers forty-four beautiful Staterooms with queen size beds. The CASE Conference hotel rate will be $109 per night. The conference registration fee will be $145 for CASE members.

A conference registration form will be included in the September issue of the CASE Newsletter and also on the CASE website at www.casewebsite.org beginning in mid-September.

Page 3

Add Technology to Student Projects with Free Photostory 3

Shannon Woods’ CASE Conference presentation “Teaching with Technology” focused on using Photostory 3, a free Microsoft Windows downloadable program, to create PSAs. Shannon demonstrated how these student-created PSAs are then used in an email campaign.

Photostory 3 creates slideshows using your digital photos. You can add stunning

E-mail Will Improve CASE Communications with Members

The CASE Board of Directors is requesting that members provide the Association with their e-mail addresses. Using e-mail will greatly enhance our ability to communicate with members regarding current legislation and other matters of importance.

CASE assures you that your e-mail address will remain confidential and not be provided to any groups or individuals outside of the organization. We will only send messages when deemed important, such as legislative updates and conference information. Messages will be sent as “blind copies” so that your e-mail address cannot be viewed by other recipients.

To be included in our e-mail list, please send a message with the subject line “Add to CASE E-mail” to:

casemembership@sbcglobal.net

Free Interactive Online Activity for the Classroom

Crash Scene is an interactive computer activity that engages students in the dynamics of a crash. It is provided free and is very easy to use.

Log on to www.edheads.org and try your hand at reconstructing a crash scene utilizing physics and math. This is a good challenge for students and teachers alike wanting to understand more about how law enforcement reconstructs a crash scene.

Source: MTEA News, Spring 2008

special effects, soundtracks, and your own voice narration to your photo stories. Then, personalize them with titles and captions, and watch them on your TV or a computer.

The program can be downloaded at

Assembly Bill Would Require Proof of School Enrollment to Obtain a PDL

Assembly Bill 2107 (Mullin) would require a provisional driver's license (PDL) applicant under the age of 18 to submit proof related to high school enrollment and/or graduation or enrollment in a postsecondary institution (in addition to other documentation), before a PDL is issued.

According to the author, the intent of this measure is to link a minor's driving privileges to his or her school attendance. The Education Commission of the States documents that 27 states have laws that link driving privileges with school attendance.

The text of AB 2107 and its progress

through the legislature can be viewed at www.leginfo.ca.gov

Page 4

56th Annual CASE ConferenceBig Bear Lake, April 11-12, 2008

Conference photos courtesy of

Shannon Woods

Shannon Woods’ “Going Beyond the Classroom” Friday morning presentation Dr. Bill Cole discusses “Approaches to Traffic Safety”

Gary Holobeck, Eastern Kentucky University, discussed “Why We Have Crashes”

Shannon Woods, John Knippel, and Dr. Bill Cole were the Saturday morning “Cecil Zaun Forum” panelists

Attendees practicing one of the lesson techniques designed to engage students. The focus of the conference was on teaching strategies and techniques that teachers can easily implement to improve instruction.

Page 5

Special Thanks to Our Conference Sponsors and Exhibitors

Automobile Club of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia Educational CreationsDrive Friendly Driving SchoolDoron Precision Systems, Inc.

Glencoe/McGraw-Hill PublishingPearson Education, Inc.

Theme: “Of the Teachers, for the Teachers, by the Teachers”

ADTSEA President-Elect Roger Voight speaking during the Saturday Luncheon. Roger urged CASE members to also join the national association and attend the ADTSEA Conference in Ft. Worth, Texas July 27-30.

Barbara Shiffermiller received a plaque recognizing her outstanding service as CASE president from incoming president Shannon Woods

CASE officers and board members posed for this photo at the Big Bear Lake Conference. Left to right: Howard Hough, Dr. Bill Cole, Jerry Gaines, Larry Woodruff, Barbara Shiffermiller, Rich Mikulik, John Knippel, Bill Lindoff, Trina Bega, and Jim Lewis.

Page 6

Page 7

Teacher Tip1–vs - the Class—Trivia ReviewSubmitted by Shannon Woods, River City High School, West Sacramento

This game is played much like the television show “1 vs 100”. The object is for one person to eliminate class players until he/she is the last person standing.

Materials:Color coded cards for each of the “mob” members. Copy templates onto colored paper (cardstock is preferred)

Review question ranging in difficulty with multiple choice answers.

Procedure:1. Randomly select one person to be the ”one”. The rest of the class becomes the “mob”.

2. Play begins by the “one” being asked a question. The player and the mob answer using their color coded cards displayed at the same time. Give a time limit to answer— like 15 seconds.

3. If the “one” answers the question correctly, any “mob” players that also answered correctly remain in the game. The wrong answered players are eliminated.

4. The next question and each succeeding question increases in difficulty. After correctly answering the first three questions, the “one” may choose to leave the game with their acquired points only before answering the next question. If they choose to go on and cannot answer the question then the “mob” wins.

5. If “one” answers incorrectly, his turn is finished and the “mob” (whoever is left) wins.

6. Points are awarded from low (for the easier questions) to high (for the harder ones.) The “one” accumulates points as he/she answers correctly. Whatever points have been accumulated when the “one” answers the question incorrectly are split between the remaining “mob” members or awarded to each mob member equally. The “one” receives no points.

7. Play ends when the “one” has eliminated the “mob” and receives all the points.

8. For official 1 vs 100 rules visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_vs._100#American_format

Note: Color coded cards for each player are a must. Students need to hold up card high to help avoid last minute changes in the answers. I typically use this type of game as a review for upcoming chapter/ unit tests.

Membership Application (please type or print)Professional Memberships are $40.00. New memberships are valid for one year from date of receipt.

Name __________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________

City _______________________________________________ State ______ Zip ____________

School: _________________________________ District _____________________________________

County: ___________________________________________

Phone: School or office ( )__________-_____________ Evenings: ( )__________-____________

Referred by (optional):_______________________________________________

Make check payable to:CASE25 Shelbourne PlaceSan Mateo, CA 94402

Please help us increase our membership!

Our Membership Committee is requesting that each member do his/her part to bring in new members. Please check with the driver education professionals at your school or district to see if they are members of CASE. If not, provide them with the membership application below and discuss the importance of belonging to their professional association.