Turn Off Texting is Now Booking with Mobile Simulator & Hygiene Protocols

Turn Off Texting is a free, hands-on distracted driving safety demonstration that visits high schools across Vermont. It’s now scheduling free presentations through September, with disinfecting protocols in place.

To our Vermont Driver Educator family,

We’ve prepared for a safe September return of the Turn Off Texting program and invite you to schedule a free visit of the presentation for your students. During this school year Turn Off Texting will be hosted in a mobile classroom with an advanced driving simulator. The Youth Safety Council has prepared hygiene protocols that give us confidence in our work to keep this important resource available. The program continues to be grant and sponsor-funded and remains free to driver educators.

If you aren’t familiar with Turn Off Texting (TOT), it is a first-hand driving experience that exposes student drivers to the hazards of distraction while driving. An advanced driving simulator provides a safe, controlled environment for students to have driving experiences while texting that give them an immediate understanding of its dangers. Learn more.

We are bringing special energy to scheduling TOT visits during the month of September to schools that can bring ten or more students to the presentation. Our presenter is available through each school day and TOT is open to all high school students holding driving permits or licenses. The TOT driving simulator is a unique resource in our state and we are deeply grateful to our program supporters for making it available to you and your students.

To schedule a TOT visit, please visit this page or email director@yscvt.org to learn more.

Our health protocols:

• Our presenter will observe strict social distancing of six feet while on the job and wear a mask;
• One student may participate at a time;
• Signs will be posted at all entrances clearly indicating that no one may enter if they have symptoms of respiratory illness;
• Hand sanitizer will be available to staff, students and educators;
• All visitors to the simulator will sign-in with contact info on a contact tracing log;
• The simulator will be wiped down with disinfectant after each participant.

We expect that schools will have temperature-monitoring or other screening processes in place, but our presenter will also screen with a no-touch thermometer and report temperatures 100• or more to the driver educator.