Terry Weaver, program coordinator for the North Dakota Safety Council, said the name Alive at 25 relates to statistics showing the No. 1 killer in the United States of people aged 15 to 24 is motor vehicle crashes.
“This will be the first class offered in Jamestown,” Weaver said.
The course was only introduced in North Dakota this year, but it’s been taught in Colorado since 1994 and is associated with a significant drop in vehicle-related deaths among class graduates in that age group.
“Individuals who take our class in Colorado are 72 percent less likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash when compared to 2007 NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) statistics averaged for the same age group,” said John Anderson II, deputy director of the Colorado State Patrol Family Foundation.
Trooper Tracy Brumfield of the North Dakota Highway Patrol is one of three state troopers trained to facilitate the course. He has already held classes in Casselton and Oakes and will be the instructor in Jamestown.
“It’s a great course,” Brumfield said. “When I’ve taught the course the students have really responded.”
Brumfield said although four hours sounds like a long time, only a small portion is lecture with the remainder being hands-on learning. He said the students watch DVDs of real life scenarios which stop just before the end. The students then act out what they think happens next before learning the actual ending of the film.
Although the students in Casselton and Oakes had fun with the scenarios, “They are eye opening,” Brumfield said. “We have at least touched them so that they’re thinking about the choices they might be making.”
Alive at 25 is co-sponsored by the North Dakota Safety Council, North Dakota Department of Transportation, North Dakota Highway Patrol and State Farm Insurance.
Weaver said the cost to attend is $45, but scholarships are available for those needing help with the fee. To register visit www.ndsc.org or call the North Dakota Safety Council at 701-223-6372 or 800-932-8890.
Sun reporter Jackie Hyra can be reached at (701) 952-8455 or by e-mail at jackieh@jamestownsun.com