THP to host Teen Driver Education Camp

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) announced Monday its first Teen Driver Education Camp for high school students across the state. The camp will be hosted by Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) at the department's training center from Monday, July 16, to Friday, July 20, 2018.

To attend the camp, interested teens must register online at www.reducetncrashes.org by May 1, 2018. There are no costs to participate; however, the program does not provide overnight lodging. Space is limited; therefore, registrants will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parents are encouraged to assist teens with completing registration as soon as possible. The camp agenda will be emailed to attendees once registration has closed.

"We are thrilled to offer driver safety education for teens," said Communications Director Megan Buell. "As the mother of a teen driver, I understand the challenges parents face in preparing their children to become responsible drivers. The purpose of this camp is to provide free resources and credible information straight from subject matter experts in the field of traffic safety."

The Teen Driver Education Camp is intended for drivers ages 15 to 17. Participants are required to complete two days of educational training comprised of the "AAA How to Drive" curriculum, mock crash demonstration, traffic safety presentations, driving simulators, group activities, indoor/outdoor events, and more. The first group of campers will attend Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the second group will attend Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Friday, July 20, all participants will attend graduation and receive a certificate of completion of the camp. Parents are encouraged to attend the graduation festivities as well.

Additionally, AT&T "It Can Wait" will provide former Lambuth University football player Fletcher Cleaves to serve as a guest speaker during the camp. In 2009, Cleaves was involved in a tragic car crash caused by a distracted driver suspected of texting while driving. The event left him paralyzed from the chest down, and he is now quadriplegic.

Crash survivor Brittany Leedham will also speak during the camp to share the intimate details of the 2008 crash that not only left her with substantial injuries but also resulted in the death of her 19-year-old boyfriend, Zak. The crash occurred when Zak lost control while speeding to pass another vehicle on Holt Road in Brentwood. His vehicle wrapped around a tree causing Brittany to undergo 22 surgeries.

This program is supported by AAA - the Auto Club Group, AT&T "It Can Wait," Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Nissan of Cool Springs, Operation Life Saver, Putnam County Emergency Medical Services, Smart Start, SplitSecnd, State Farm Insurance, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO), Tennessee Technological University (TTU), Tennessee Trucking Foundation, Kyle W. Kiihnl Foundation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, WKRN News Channel 2, ThinkFast Interactive, ReduceTNcrashes and other public safety partners in Tennessee.