In recognition of National Teen Driver Safety Awareness Week, NJ Transit is promoting its Driver Education Safety Program, encouraging New Jersey schools to obtain the agency’s free curriculum package for use in high school classrooms. 

In an effort to help teen drivers operate vehicles in a safe manner near railroad crossings, light rail lines and buses, NJ Transit has made available two class periods of multimedia instructional content to nearly 700 public, private and charter schools throughout the state.

The lesson plans, developed in partnership with Operation Lifesaver and the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety and approved by the state Department of Education, have been given to driver education teachers to supplement existing curricula. The lessons were piloted last year at eight high schools, where teachers, administrators and students provided valuable feedback.

Among the critical safety lessons emphasized in PowerPoint and DVD formats are:

• Never stop on tracks. If gates begin to lower, continue crossing to completely clear the tracks.

• Never go around lowered crossing gates. They indicate a train is approaching.

• Before you start to operate a vehicle over a railroad crossing, be certain you have enough room on the opposite side to completely cross the tracks.

• The law requires you to yield to transit buses that are re-entering the flow of traffic after making a stop.

To request the curriculum package or to learn more about the program, educators may contact a NJ Transit safety education specialist at (973) 491-8297 or DriverEd@njtransit.com