Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office Hosts Safe Driving Class For Teenagers

Some Green Country teenagers know how to be better drivers thanks to a free class from the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.

The teens used the same course that law enforcement uses during its training.

This is the first time that TCSO held a class like this.

These drivers will learn everything from how to deal with hydroplaning, how to brake safely, and even, how to change a tire.

Maggie McDuff is one of the teenagers who took the class.

"I decided to come here today just to get a better understanding of driving and to fill in all the blanks that I didn't get whenever I was in driver’s ed," said McDuff.

McDuff says she learned a lot about how to react when she gets stopped, slides off the road, or if she has car trouble.

"I got more tips on what to do whenever you get pulled over by an officer, how to correctly go back onto the road whenever you've gone off-road,” said McDuff.

All the students practiced on the same course that officers and deputies do but at lower speeds.

Captain Paul Tryon with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office says it’s important to show the teens how their own cars work and where everything is.

"It makes a big difference,” said Tryon. “That's why we, even as deputies, if they get in a different vehicle, like we go from Chargers to SUVs. We train them in different vehicles because that's what you're driving."

He hopes students like McDuff will leave the class feeling more confident.

"I hope they have fun and they learn something that will help them if they come across a situation when they're driving, that they will know how to handle it,” said Tryon. “And not have to guess. They will be prepared for that situation."

McDuff says she’s glad she went because now she’ll know what to do, even if the worst happens.

"It's so important because you never know what's going to happen until you get out there, so I feel like it's really important to have that information beforehand so that once you finally get out there, you can be as safe as possible, you can keep yourself safe, keep other people safe, and just get where you need to go," said McDuff.

The Sheriff's Office hopes to get some grant money so they can hold classes like these a few times a year.