Students Get Ready for Road

A total of 20 students from high schools in 43 Division are enrolled in the First Gear Driver Education program launched on October 19.

Led by Neighbourhood Community, Traffic Services and Crime Prevention officers, the five-week program covers the rules of the road and equips students with skills to take their G1 exam.

“It gives them hope and opportunity. Also, when they go out into the community after having the police giving them access to get their license and teaching them the right way, they can be excellent ambassadors for Toronto Police,” said Rick Gosling, of the Toronto Children’s Breakfast Club, who are supporting the program. “Our program began with bicycles for our kids and making sure they got to and from school and with looking for jobs. We decided to take it up a notch with helping get driver’s licences.”

St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School student Maera Arma is excited to be on the road to a driver’s licence.

“I am happy to be in this program so I could be taught how to be a safe road user and respect everyone else who is using the road,” said Arma.

Staff Sergeant Jeff Ross said the goal is to get the students successfully through the test while keeping an eye on safety.

“More than just obtaining their driver’s license, I want the young people to take the knowledge and skills they are being given and use that for proper road safety on the streets,” Ross said.

Classes will run for about four hours on Saturdays.

Presenters include Ministry of Transportation, Teens Learn to Drive and Accident Awareness representatives, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and retired Traffic Services officers Hugh Smith.

Program coordinator Blaise Kurucz said the program is also free, including the driver’s test – which is a barrier for many students to seeking out their licence.

ProAction Cops & Kids and the Toronto Children’s Breakfast Club (TCBC) are supporting the program with funding.