curriculum

Beginning teen drivers in North Carolina must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction in drivers' education and 6 hours behind-the-wheel instruction with a certified driving instructor before obtaining a limited learner permit under the Graduated Licensing Program. Six of the thirty hours of classroom instruction must cover drug and alcohol use prevention.

The three-hour SAFETeens ThinkFirst curriculum is presented during a regularly scheduled Drivers' Education class, satisfying three of the six hours of required drug and alcohol prevention instruction. The purpose of the SAFETeens ThinkFirst curriculum is to enhance and enrich all course objectives related to this drug and alcohol use prevention component of the course. The curriculum now also satisfies course objectives for several other components of the state-certified instruction.

Each SAFETeens ThinkFirst presentation coordinates the efforts of several local community education initiatives into "one package". The presentation team includes a health care provider, an E.M.S. team, and a law enforcement officer. The highly interactive curriculum addresses the responsibilities of driving, the consequences of misusing the privilege to drive, and the life skills for injury prevention.

The team teaching format provides in-depth, professional expertise on the medical aspects of alcohol/drug use and other risky behaviors as they impact on driving. The benefits of the Graduated Licensing Program for new drivers are highlighted. The consequences of impairment and other distractions on the inexperienced driver are clearly demonstrated by EMS crash scene procedures and mock roadside testing by a law enforcement officer. The law officer also covers the legal aspects of N.C. Laws related to driving under the influence, implied consent, motor vehicle occupant safety, railroad crossing safety, and proper bystander behavior. Interactive exercises supervised by each of the team members engage the students in hands-on activities to personalize vital concepts that can protect them for life.

The curriculum design minimizes planning and preparation by the classroom instructor by maximizing the use of community resources. A high level of interaction with the students is achieved through the use of local crash scenarios, anatomy models, Impairment Goggles, rehabilitation therapy demonstrations, trauma equipment, law enforcement procedure enactments, and dialogues with community experts about local events and issues. The SAFETeens ThinkFirst Curriculum Guide with appendices provides teachers with extensive references and timely supplements on related topics.