The Portland International Raceway was filled with the sounds of revving
engines and squealing brakes on the sunny Saturday morning of Oct. 5.

Instead of sportscars racing neck-in-neck around the track, teen drivers from
Clackamas County, accompanied by county deputies trained as driving
instructors, navigated a driving course designed to show real-world dangers
encountered behind the wheel.

The raceway, located at 1940 North Victory Blvd. in Portland, played host to
the fifth annual Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) “Drive with a Cop”
program. 70 teen drivers and 34 parents participated in the event, designed
to teach safe driving techniques and educate young drivers about the dangers
of speed, impaired and distracted driving.

“A lot of life-saving (driving) skills are not being instructed,” Clackamas
County Sheriff Craig Roberts said. “We’re here to help save lives on the road.”
The sheriff cited motor vehicle crashes as the number one cause of teen
deaths nationwide.

Roberts added that young drivers in the Mount Hood communities face
additional dangers from winter weather, including safely putting on chains
along the highway and also from encountering wildlife while driving in rural
areas.

“If a deer runs right in front of the car (the driver) might just have to hit it to
avoid attempting a radical correction,” Roberts said. “The (young drivers)
have to be able to make that decision.”

This year’s program included hands-on driving training, a crash reconstruction
presentation and an opportunity to wear “impaired goggles” that simulated
driving under the influence of intoxicants. Young drivers also had the
opportunity to hear the stories of guest speakers impacted by the loss of
family members in teen driving crashes.

Leading causes of teen accidents include distracted driving and following too
closely. The driving training course allowed the inexperienced drivers to
conduct a full emergency stop under the supervision of the deputies to
experience the time and distance necessary to avoid a collision.

Roberts stated that the teen drivers’ time with the deputies was not only a
chance to build safe driving skills but also an opportunity to form a positive
relationship with the law enforcement officers.

During the event, Les Schwab gave a demonstration of safe techniques for
changing a tire and putting on chains while on the roadside. Representatives
from the company instructed young drivers of safe vehicle maintenance
practices, such as maintaining adequate tire tread, tire pressure and proper
alignment to prevent tire failure or other related accidents.

The “Drive with a Cop” program was sponsored by the Oregon Department of
Transportation, the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, Oregon Impact, Les
Schwab and Swift Transportation. For more information about the program
contact Clackamas County sheriff's office Event Coordinator Kim Lippert by
email at klippert@clackamas.us or by phone at 971-413-1762.