• Pre-registration will occur at school sites through the school counseling secretary beginning Tuesday, March 19th at 7 am through April 5th or until seats are filled, which could occur on the first day of registration, so register as early as possible. Please follow school office times for the school counseling secretary to be on hand to accept completed pre-registrations, you may wish to call ahead for your school's counseling center hours
• Students must have the completed pre-registration form and a legible copy of their permit dated on or before April 5th, 2024 to be eligible for pre-registration and the opportunity to secure a seat in the program with the school counselor secretary.  Please make sure all items are completed and legible to proceed with pre-registration. Remember seats may be filled the first day as it is a live registration process
• If you do not have your permit by April 5th, 2023 Other options include participation in a Driver Ed class during school hours next school year; or after school with an outside organization, such as Teen Driver Challenge through Collier County Sheriff's Office; or register next summer when you will have had the minimum 60 hours/days drive requirement for the safety of all our students
• For home school, private, or charter school students, with proof of residency in Collier County, who wish to participate in our summer program, registration will occur at MLK Administrative Center located at 5775 Osceola Trail on March 21st - please email Tracy Bowen to schedule your time bowentr@collierschools.com
• If you need anything explained in Spanish or Creole, please call 377-0104 and speak to Loraynee Caballeros

Additional Information for Parents:

Our mandatory parent meeting is designed to help parents have the resources they need to keep communication and information up-to-date. We understand that driving is a commitment shared between parents and their children. These sessions will be similar to the context of presentations and information presented to the students so the lines of communication, respect, and responsibilities for safe driving can be shared.

Considering motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens aged 16-19 and are highly preventable, we are committed to ensuring that our program prepares parents to be a vital part of their child’s success in this abbreviated program.

The Wireless Communications While Driving Law, section 316.305, Florida Statutes, took effect on July 1, 2019. This new law requires drivers to put their phones down and focus on driving.

What is the Wireless Communications While Driving Law?

Section 316.305, Florida Statutes allows law enforcement to stop motor vehicles and issue citations to motorists that are texting and driving. A person may not operate a motor vehicle while manually typing or entering multiple letters, numbers, or symbols into a wireless communications device to text, email and instant message.

Section 316.306, Florida Statutes, is a prohibition on using wireless communications devices in a handheld manner in school and work zone.  A person may not operate a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner in a designated school crossing, school zone, or active work zone area. Active work zone, as it pertains to Section 316.306, Florida Statutes, means that construction personnel are present or are operating equipment on the road or immediately adjacent to the work zone area.

FIRST OFFENSE is a non-moving traffic violation with a base $30 fine, not including additional court costs or other fees, and no points assessed against the driver's license.

SECOND OFFENSE within five years is a moving traffic violation, with a base $60 fine, not including court costs and other fees, and 3 points assessed against the driver's license.

For not using a device hands-free in a school zone and work zone, section 316.306, Florida Statutes:

ANY OFFENSE is a moving traffic violation, with a base $60 fine, not including court costs and other fees, and 3 points assessed against the driver's license.

More Information on Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is anything that takes your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road or mind off driving. It is extremely risky behavior that puts everyone on the road in danger. There are different kinds of driver distractions:

Texting requires all three types of distraction, making it one of the most dangerous of distracted driving behaviors.  However, this is not the only cause of distracted driving.  Other common distractions include: tending to kids or passengers in the back seat, eating, watching an event outside of the vehicle, interacting with passengers, unsecured pets, putting on makeup or grooming, adjusting radio or climate controls, checking your GPS app or system and even daydreaming.

To successfully avoid a crash, a driver must perceive a hazard, react and give the vehicle time to stop. Driver perception distance, or the distance a vehicle travels from the time a driver sees a hazard until the brain recognizes it, and reaction distance, the distance a car will continue to travel after seeing a hazard until the driver physically hits the brakes, dramatically affects a vehicle’s stopping distance. Even a focused driver going 50 mph will travel nearly the length of a football field before coming to a complete stop.

When a driver is not focused on the road, it limits their ability to come to a stop and avoid a crash.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and Florida Highway Patrol remind all drivers to keep your eyes on the road and Focus on Driving to ensure everyone can Arrive Alive!

Don’t Text and Drive - Keep Our Kids Safe!