Parents and guardians have the largest influence on teens as they learn to drive. It is important for parents to be aware of their safe driving habits so that students will use them as well.

Presenters from the traffic safety program, First Impact visited Liberty to speak to the parents of students in driver’s ed. This presentation took place in Liberty’s cafeteria on Oct. 12 at 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The presentation was designed to help inform parents how to assist their children while they learn to drive. The main goal of First Impact is to reduce crashes with teens by increasing the knowledge of parents.

The meeting was organized by driver’s ed teacher, Ms. Kleiber. She works with the presenters Allyn Workman and Carol Hoormann in Missouri Driver Safety Education Association (MODSEA).

“I think that it was beneficial for your parents to hear how to help guide you and teach you,”  Kleiber said. “I’m hoping that more parents will come in the future.”

Several driver’s ed students attended the presentation, including sophomore Hannah Gamble.

“I thought that it was really good,” Gamble said. “They got the point across about how parents should help their teens be better drivers. My dad kept talking about it on the way home.”

The presentation was mostly information about the Graduated Driver’s Law. The GDL includes the different steps that someone must take while learning how to drive. This includes the learner’s permit, intermediate license and then the full license.

Information about how to prepare students for bad weather and heavier car load situations was also included in the presentation. It is important for parents to be aware of these things so that they can properly guide their children while they learn how to drive.

For more information about the First Impact program, visit http://savemolives.com/news-resources/news-item/first-impact-program.