Wasser proposes new driving safety program
Supt. says seniors who want parking permit would have to attend
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

On the heels of the tragic death of three teenagers and a grandmother in a two-vehicle collision in Freehold Township on Jan. 10 comes a discussion about implementing a safety program whose goal would be to reduce the risk of such a tragedy happening again.

Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools James Wasser said discussion about a safety program for seniors who want to apply for a parking permit at their school took place at a Board of Education meeting just a day before the fatal crash on Kozloski Road.

Freehold High School students Michael Dragonetti, 17, James Warnock, 17, and Andrew Lundy, 16, all of Freehold Township, were in a car which collided with a school transportation vehicle being driven by Ruth Mac Arthur, 68, of Old Bridge. All four individuals were killed in the collision.

A 14-year-old boy who was being transported by MacArthur was hospitalized with injuries sustained in the crash. He was released from the hospital about a week after the accident.

Wasser said he had spoken with the FRHSD principals about developing a program that will deal with safety issues and driving techniques in order to help inexperienced drivers.

A student's attendance at the proposed driving safety program would be in addition to the regular classroom driver education course that all sophomores take.

Wasser said he originally brought up the subject of a driving program this past fall, one he said would tighten up the regulations for students who want to obtain a parking permit at their school. Parking at the school is a privilege, according to Wasser, and one that is only afforded to seniors.

"The driving program will be mandatory for anyone who applies for a parking permit and will require that at least one parent comes to the program with the student," Wasser said.

The program, according to Wasser, will address issues such as driving sober and driving techniques, basically teaching new drivers how to react on the road in certain situations or how to deal with aggressive drivers. He said he will look to his resources internally to decide what that program should look like.

Wasser has experience in the field of preventing drug abuse and alcoholism. Prior to being named superintendent he was the district's coordinator for substance awareness programs. Before coming to the FRHSD he was the director of the peer leadership training program at Bayonne High School. He said his previous experience combined with resources such as law enforcement officials, other safety personnel and the school principals are enough to get the ball rolling on the driving safety initiative.

Wasser said he is hoping to have the program in place this school year, before parking permits are issued to students who will be seniors in the 2007-08 school year.

The superintendent said the school community went through the process of grieving during the week following the accident.

"Now comes the process of healing," he said. "There are terrific young people out there. They are not given enough credit for who they are. These students should be given an award for their reaction to this crisis. They have all acted so mature at all the events they attended."

Wasser said the impact of the tragedy extended to other schools in the district, bringing students from the other buildings to support the Freehold students in their grief.

FRHSD board President Patricia Horvath said board members are in complete agreement with Wasser's plan to create an additional driving safety program and will give it their full support.

"The irony is," Horvath said, "that at our last meeting, Jim (Wasser) discussed safety on the road and how dangerous he felt it was to drive today."

Shortly thereafter, the three Freehold High School students were killed in the collision.

Horvath said the board members will be looking forward to seeing the plans for the new driving safety program.

such as law enforcement officials, other safety personnel and the school principals are enough to get the ball rolling on the driving safety initiative.

Wasser said he is hoping to have the program in place this school year, before parking permits are issued to students who will be seniors in the 2007-08 school year.

The superintendent said the school community went through the process of grieving during the week following the accident.

"Now comes the process of healing," he said. "There are terrific young people out there. They are not given enough credit for who they are. These students should be given an award for their reaction to this crisis. They have all acted so mature at all the events they attended."

Wasser said the impact of the tragedy extended to other schools in the district, bringing students from the other buildings to support the Freehold students in their grief.

FRHSD board President Patricia Horvath said board members are in complete agreement with Wasser's plan to create an additional driving safety program and will give it their full support.

"The irony is," Horvath said, "that at our last meeting, Jim (Wasser) discussed safety on the road and how dangerous he felt it was to drive today."

Shortly thereafter, the three Freehold High School students were killed in the collision.

Horvath said the board members will be looking forward to seeing the plans for the new driving safety program.