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Safety courses offered in Pocatello, Blackfoot for young drivers

Making young drivers safer drivers is the goal of Alive at 25, an innovative defensive driving course offered this month by the Pocatello and Blackfoot police departments.

The Pocatello Police Department will offer a class Feb. 21, from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Pocatello Police substation near Fred Meyer at 800 Yellowstone. The Blackfoot Police Department will offer its class Feb. 24, from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Blackfoot City Hall, 157 N. Broadway St.

The classes are open to drivers 15 to 24 years of age. They are free, but participants need to register online by going to http://aliveat25.us and clicking on "Idaho" to select a class. Depending on a family's insurance carrier, successfully completing an Alive at 25 class may lower insurance rates for a young driver.

Taught by law enforcement officers, the four-and-one-half hour program helps young drivers learn and adopt safe-driving practices, take responsibility for personal behavior in various driving situations and be more aware of typical driving hazards.

Alive at 25 instructors use group discussions, role-playing and videos to help young drivers develop convictions and strategies that will keep them safer on the road.

Drivers younger than 25 are four times more likely to be involved in a serious motor vehicle accident than older drivers. Research shows this is a result of one or a combination of the following factors:

- Lack of awareness of the consequences of risk-taking behavior
- Inexperience with the complexities of driving
- Driving as a social activity
- Peers in the vehicle with the young driver
- Impaired driving
- Speeding

The two police departments are offering the courses in cooperation with the ITD, the Colorado State Patrol Family Foundation and the National Safety Council.