New driver safety course is targeted at young drivers

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

A metro city is targeting young drivers with the implementation of a new driver's safety course.

Alive at 25 is a survival course. Drivers who end up in court will be given the option to attend the four hour course.

Alive at 25 had a lot of success in Colorado when it was implemented by the State Patrol.  Edmond is hoping for similar success when the course starts in March

With nearly 80,000 residents, Edmond has seen its share of car wrecks. 62 percent of them involved drivers between the ages of 16 and 24.

Officer Jim Gwartney is one of two instructors assigned to Alive at 25. Even though it hasn't even started yet, the program is already booked for a six month span.

"It's such a high need that they have so many people attending their courts that's in great demand that we held it more often," Gwartney said.

The latest statistics show motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for younger drivers.

California, Kansas and Texas have all implemented Alive at 25 programs after seeing the teen driving fatality rate drop in Colorado.