Troopers Edwards and Perez talk safety to new drivers

Tampa, Florida – On Friday, April 17, 2009, Sgt. Steve Gaskins, Trooper Reggie Edwards and Trooper Benny Perez met with members of the Kidd Group, a video production company from Tallahassee contracted by the DHSMV to create new footage for the TakeTheWheel.net website. The website is part of the DHSMV’s and FHP’s effort to educate young, novice drivers about the perils of speeding, aggressive driving, drunk or drugged driving, and distracted driving. Planning took several weeks and consisted of coordinating with the Hillsborough County School Board, the Alonso High School Administration, and Driver’s Education Instructor Victor Bevis. The results of these efforts consisted of a safety presentation which included interviews with a dozen students, video presentations, and a rollover simulator demonstration.

The event was capped by the inclusion of the Tampa Bay media who had demonstrated extreme interest in teen driver safety after a horrific crash in Seminole, Florida which occurred April 10th that resulted in the deaths of four teenagers. Bay News 9, WTVT Fox 13, WFLA News Channel 8, Univision, the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune all dispatched reporters and video crews to document FHP’s educational efforts for teen drivers; therefore, TakeTheWheel.net received maximum publicity with the hope of reducing injuries and deaths associated with the age group most likely to be affected – teenagers!