By Brett R. Whitling
Staff writer
CLARION – On April 20 in the parking lot at the Brookville Heritage House, several school districts from Clarion County and Jefferson County sent their own students to compete in the Clar-Jeff Safe Driving Competition.
Each school chose three students between the junior and senior classes, who have maintained a clean and crash-free driving record, to take several types of tests demonstrating their knowledge and skill as a safe driver.
The top three winners took home scholarships provided by the Allstate Foundation.
Sam Heeter, of Redbank High School, won first place and a scholarship for $1,000.
Second place was Dalton Dougherty, also of Redbank, who won a scholarship for $500.
Third place was awarded to Alicia MacBeth, of Brookville High School, with a scholarship of $250.
Redbank School District achieved the top combined team score and received a trophy provided by AAA East Central.
The students were tested on Perceptual Driving, where they were tested on a virtual driving simulator, a written test for PA driving laws, vehicle defects and tested their real skills in a Behind-the-Wheel test.
The driving course was set up by the Pennsylvania Motor Trucking Association and is a standard course for local teen driving competitions throughout the state.
The course consisted of having the students maneuver through the parking lot and park at several sections showing they have perception of where the car is actually parked.
The students also had to inspect a vehicle and report several things they notice that were wrong with the car, like the hood being popped, two doors being slightly ajar, pliers in the front of the dash and a fold in the floor mat under the pedals.
In addition, the top two finishers will qualify to compete for $8,000 in scholarships at the Pennsylvania Motor Trucking Association’s “Pennsylvania Safe Driving Competition for Youth” to be held at Camp Hill, Pennsylvania in May.
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