Manchester Township High School is the first school in Ocean County and may be the first school in New Jersey to launch the National Safety Council’s “Alive at 25” defensive driving program, Ptl. Douglas Higgins, Traffic Safety Officer for the Manchester Police Department, told students attending the first week of the program. 

The Alive at 25 program utilizes an interactive teaching model with videos, role playing and other techniques aimed at changing the mindset of new drivers.  Higgins has been trained by the National Safety Council to teach the four-hour course, which is being implemented in cooperation with the Manchester Police Department. 

On the third day of the class, Higgins showed videos to students and asked them what the young drivers were doing wrong and right.  They quickly pointed out bad driving behaviors including talking on a cell phone, making a u-turn on a busy street, speeding, honking at people, and being distracted and influenced by passengers.  “That’s the biggest problem here,” said Higgins.  “The driver is not in control of his driving, his friends are.  You have to be in control because as the driver you are responsible for whatever happens.”  There was a lively discussion about how to handle passengers who are distracting you or pressuring you to take risky actions.  Higgins also reviewed practical tips for safe driving like recognizing hazards and maintaining a safe following distance.

The students seemed enthusiastic about the program. 

“This course is really good, much better than the other driving class.  It has more up-to-date books and videos,” remarked Sean V.  

Kaylee R. said, “It teaches you to pay attention and be aware of your surroundings.”

“This course is good for all of us - it teaches not just how to drive, but how to drive safely,” said Errick F.

Higgins was happy with the response.  “This group had been really awesome,” he commented.  “The first day was a little rough breaking the ice but it didn’t take long for them to really open up.  They have some really smart comments considering none of them are even driving yet.  They are really thinking ahead. In the end, they need to understand that everything is about the decisions we make, whether positive or negative.”

At Manchester High, sophomores will take the course during one week of their regular driver education course, said Vice Principal Alex George.  It will be offered once each quarter so that all sophomores may complete it by the end of the year. George said there are also plans to offer an after-school program for current juniors and seniors, many of whom are already driving, and an evening program for parents.

The Ocean County Freeholders, Prosecutor’s Office, Chiefs of Police, and County Schools Superintendent have supported an initiative to bring the Alive at 25 program to schools throughout Ocean County in response to a recent spike in serious and fatal automobile accidents involving young people.  Manchester was the first district to launch the program during the week of December 10.