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Medina High School pilot program teaches students driving skills
By John Higgins
Beacon Journal
Published on Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008
Seated in the driving simulator at Medina High School on Tuesday morning, Jake Bronson watched three computer screens in front of him as he negotiated a right turn into traffic, zooming past the yield sign.
''Slow down when you're going through it because of the yield,'' said Rem King, his mentor and classmate.
After Bronson completed the Level 10 (out of 12) course, he returned the favor while King drove a Level 10 course with light snow.
King and Bronson are among 14 students in a three-week driving class using simulators that concludes this week.
They are both 15 years old — the same age their teacher's daughter, Michelle Sanderbeck, was when she was killed in a traffic accident in 2006.
Michelle's father, Ray Sanderbeck, raised money to lease two simulators and buy the curriculum. He hopes to persuade the Medina Board of Education to offer the class during the upcoming school year as an elective integrated with the health classes.
Sanderbeck, who lives in Montville Township, would like to get simulators into schools throughout Medina County and eventually in Summit County.
Results so far show that practice on the machines improves performance. The machines include seat belts, brake and gas pedals, an emergency brake and switches for the ignition, wiper blades and headlights.
Students advance through increasing levels of difficulty in a variety of landscapes and weather conditions. Lessons on driver safety complement practice in the simulators.
After two and a half weeks, the average score of the class on a 100-point simulated driving test has increased from 39.3 to 88.4, Sanderbeck said.
Susan Huth, Medina High principal, needs no convincing of the program's value.
''For parents, it would be a great opportunity for their child to just go through that preparation before they turn that magic 16,'' Huth said. ''He's got a big vision and these are just the steps to making that vision a reality.''
Inspiring change
It's not easy for Sanderbeck to walk the halls of Medina High School, where his daughter was once a student.
''I struggled to come here to school,'' he said. ''I have high anxiety when I come here.''
He can find the exact place where Michelle's photo would have gone in a large framed poster of the graduating class of 2008.
But she died in 2006 in a one-car accident while riding with three other teen passengers and a 16-year-old driver who had only had his license for a month. Police determined that speed and the young driver's inexperience led to the crash.
Since then, Sanderbeck and his wife, Debbie, have worked to improve teen driver safety and have inspired changes in Ohio's teen licensing laws, including a restriction that took effect last spring. It says 16-year-old drivers may only have one nonfamily member as a passenger.
In her memory, they created ''Michelle's Leading Star Foundation'' (online at http://www.mstarfoundation.com), which has raised $55,000 for driver safety programs from an annual benefit run and silent auctions.
Sanderbeck is leasing two simulators from Florida-based Virtual Driver Interactive for $5,800 a year and he purchased the all-electronic ''RoadWise'' curriculum, which includes a laptop computer and projector, for $7,800.
Once Sanderbeck had the money for the program, he approached Medina Superintendent Randy Stepp, who was high school principal when the crash occurred.
School officials decided it was better to try a pilot program this summer to work out any bugs.
Huth said she and Sanderbeck connected immediately.
''This has been great working with Ray,'' Huth said. ''We've had a connection from the first day. I lost someone close to me, my 10-year-old godson-nephew.''
Huth's nephew was hit by a truck while riding a bicycle.
Sanderbeck said he isn't out to replace the private driving schools that have prepared teens to get their licenses since most high schools stopped offering driver's education years ago.
''They're still going to do the practical,'' Sanderbeck said. ''They're still going to teach the laws. [Kids] still have to get in the car.''
Instead, he wants the simulator course to focus on safe-driving habits, such as checking mirrors, staying in proper lanes and driving within the speed limits.
How it works
A few students, including King, already have temporary licenses.
''It's good practice,'' King said. ''This is going to help me, without a doubt, with my driver's test, which I'm going to takein July.''
The left and right screens of the simulator represent the view to the driver's left and right. The center screen includes a box that shows the view in the rearview mirror. Students must buckle up and properly adjust their mirrors before pulling out.
The computer frequently reminds drivers to stay in their lanes. Speed once and a computer voice corrects. Do it twice, and it's game over.
The simulations also throw the unexpected at students. Other cars blow through stop signs and sometimes veer left of center, requiring the driver to react.
Bronson, who plans to get his temporary license in the next few weeks, said the simulators are as sophisticated graphically as the video games he's played.
''It's pretty realistic, actually. I like the snow building up on the windshield and stuff. That's good.''
But he knows this is no video game.
''Most of them are racing games and stuff,'' he said, ''and this is teaching you how to be a good driver.''
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Seated in the driving simulator at Medina High School on Tuesday morning, Jake Bronson watched three computer screens in front of him as he negotiated a right turn into traffic, zooming past the yield sign.
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