WCS Takes on Safe-Driving with Checkpoints Program

Published April 27, 2017

Beginning next school year, WCS high schools will implement a new program that will require new drivers of any age and their parent to participate in a face-to-face, one-hour education program before students are able to receive a school parking permit.

“Williamson County Schools has experienced far too many fatalities this school year with our teen drivers,” said WCS Special Projects Manager Angela Huff. “A Safe-Driver Task Force was created in January to begin the dialogue of best practices in keeping our students safer while driving.”

Task Force members searched for a driving program that involved families and assisted with informing students of the importance of buckling up, not texting while driving and avoiding all distractions.

After a thorough review, Task Force members selected the Checkpoints Program for high school students that are new drivers.

Checkpoints was developed by Dr. Bruce Simons-Morton of the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. The program was adapted for use in Tennessee by the Department of Health, Division of Family Health and Wellness/Injury and Violence Prevention.

One of the major goals of the Checkpoints Program is to reduce teen crashes and violations received by teen drivers. Additionally, the purpose is to facilitate family involvement in the early months when teens are able to drive on their own.

Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, all high schools in Williamson County Schools will implement training for the Checkpoints Program. Checkpoints Training includes videos and specific techniques to reduce injury and fatalities due to risky driving. Once students have met all of the state requirements and completed the Checkpoints Program one-hour training, parents and teens will create a “Checkpoints” teen driving agreement and students will be eligible for a parking permit.

You can view the driving agreement here.