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Vol. 7 Issue 1 |
MTEA NEWS |
Fall 2002 |
From the President
The twenty-eighth special session in the history of Montana concluded on Sunday, August 11 at approximately 1:30 AM. The traffic safety programs dodged the bullet this time, but the regular session in 2003 may not be so kind.
When the special session was announced, I visited with several MTEA Executive Board members regarding the possible impact this gathering might have on our program. Some board members felt we had nothing to worry about and others didn't feel quite so comfortable. Weighing both sides, I felt it was in the best interest of MTEA to hire a lobbyist to watch for "land mines" that might quickly trigger powerful and damaging results. This was a difficult session but we survived. If you have read the papers and/or talked with your legislators, all indications are for brutal results in the next legislative session. If we wish to save the traffic education program as we currently know, it will take tremendous work. Please begin now with your networking and establish the necessary contacts. Just over a century ago when the first New York Auto Show opened, the automobiles displayed were evenly divided between steam, electric and gasoline. Now we are seeing more and more hybrid vehicles. Some estimates are for over 200,000 hybrid vehicles on the road by 2005 and more than a million by the end of the decade. All major automakers are looking at having a fuel cell vehicle in production by 2004. Where am I headed with all of this? As we are experiencing this development in transportation safety and the development of alternative fuel type vehicles, we are still locked in a battle regarding who can drive and when they will be allowed to do so. Why can't we pass legislation in this state to address the novice driver? We were so close during the last session, but poor advice lead the governor to veto a tremendous amount of hard work. Well, just as the development of hybrid and prototype vehicles do battle with the major oil companies, we will have to once again prepare to battle with legislators and others from the community. Over the last several years many of us have dreamed how our novice drivers would benefit from a GDL. Perhaps, with hard work from all, the time will arrive during this legislative session. Please feel free to contact me regarding MTEA issues and concerns. I can be contacted in the evenings at 443‑3761 or email me at jmcgraneAhelena.k12.mt.us . I wish you the most rewarding year thus far in your career. Continue the great work you do with the young people of this beautiful state. I look forward to seeing you at the spring conference! Jim Huffs Stuff David Huff, Office of Public Instruction The official report of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other drug Control Policy task Force has been published on the web site,http://www.discoveringmontana.com:gov2/css/drugcont rol/default.sap . Recommendation 6.2.7 states, "Any Graduated Driver's License Legislation bill should include strong and immediate penalties or sanctions for any violation of Minors in Possession laws." This recommendation coupled with the governor's statement to me in April that she would look favorably on a GDL bill in the next session, and the fact that House minority leader Kim Gillan is looking to introduce a bill suggests that a GDL bill has a good chance in the next session. But, don't assume it will occur without people like you making their opinions on the matter known. What about fiscal issues? Well, that's a big question. It makes sense to me that if the state wants a viable GDL, then a viable driver education program is also necessary. However, with money as tight as it is, don't make any assumptions. Make sure your legislator knows your thoughts on the matter. You are the experts in driver education and you need to make your thoughts known before the session begins. With other neighboring states cutting driver education funding, you can bet our legislators will look at that option. Washington made cuts in the spring of this year, and now there is no reimbursement for driver education in Washington public schools. As a result, schools are dumping the program. I've just received a report that Utah is looking at taking driver education out of the public schools. If that were to occur in Montana, it might well mean that more students will not be able to get into a driver education program. Don't underestimate the power of the people we serve. A driver's license is a very important item for teens and their parents. We not only need to make sure an opportunity for driver education is available to every teen, but we also need to ensure that the program we offer is the very best it can be. We want teens to not only acquire the knowledge and skill they need, but also to have the opportunity to learn life-long safe driving habits. Keep up the great work. You are important to a lot of people. Your work matters more than you are given credit for. DOJ News It is very important that driver education instructors make sure that the names on the TE lists match the birth certificate name. We have a lot of lists that are coming in with the kid's "nicknames", or short versions of the first name such as Bob for Robert or Bill for William, etc. Since 9-11, we have some stricter guidelines that we have to deal with and we would appreciate it very much if you could make sure the names match the identification documents that are being brought in. Another item we run into is the student who is registered with a stepfather's name, but has never legally been adopted. Therefore, when he/she brings in the birth certificates, etc., the legal names do not match with the stepfathers. Thank you for all that you do in training our future drivers. DID YOU KNOW THAT IN... 1901 Connecticut
is the first state to enact motor vehicle law BECOME AN ACTIVE PART OF MTEA Did you know that MTEA budgets money, mostly from the proceeds of our 50/50 drawings, for the purchase of door prizes? We can always use more door prizes though. Consider asking at least one business in your community if they would donate something to the conference. Bring it with you to the conference in Whitefish and turn it in at the registration tables. We will add it to our collection to make the prizes even more appealing! In Motion Magazine Are you one of many teachers who used to use In Motion magazine in your classes? It used to be distributed free to schools, but went out of publication last year due to lack of sponsorship by General Motors. Quaker State has been secured as the new sponsor. Plans are underway to again have this publication available some time this fall or winter. If you are interested in receiving a classroom set (up to 65 copies), contact the publisher by phone at (847) 205-3000 and ask to be placed on the new mailing list. You may also contact them by mail at General Learning Communications, 900 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-4028. IF YOU HAVE ANY ARTICLES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IN THE NEWSLETTER, PLEASE SEND TO: HAROLD LAIR NEWSLETTER DEADLINES: FALL NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 1
IF YOU HAVE A NEW ADDRESS SINCE THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, PLEASE FORWARD IT TO JIM CARROLL AT THE MTEA ADDRESS Slim
Jim incidents unfounded Over the past several months, a number of bulletins and stories have been circulating throughout the law enforcement and emergency services community about side impact airbag deployments resulting from the use of a slim jim (a metal device which can be slipped in between the window and molding of many car windows to unlock the door). These bulletins incorrectly claim that a law enforcement officer or firefighter, using a slim jim, was injured or killed while attempting to open a locked driver's door of a vehicle equipped with side impact air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has researched these claims and has discussed this issue with manufacturers of vehicles equipped with side impact air bags. NHTSA has been unable to verify that any incidents of the types described have occurred. Additionally, NHTSA contacted the manufactures of vehicles equipped with side impact air bags, who categorically state that it is impossible to deploy the side impact air bags by using a slim Jim from the outside of their vehicles. For further information and to report incidents related to this subject, contact the NHTSA Special Crash Investigation: 24 hour voice mail # (202-493-0400). NHTSA.dot ADTSEA NEWS The 47th ADTSEA conference will be held July 27-31, 2003, at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, North Carolina. More information will be shared at the spring conference for those interested in attending. TE 99 ENDORSEMENT At last word, the tentative date for adding the TE 99 endorsement on Elementary certificates is January of 2003. Jim Meier, OPI Certification Specialist, is working on this and thanks should be given to him, David Huff and Nancy Lunday for all the work on this addition. Dirt Bug Could Cause Crashes, says Survey A Czech research group warns that a common parasite that infects between 30% and 60% of the world's population could cause crashes. The researchers warn that people with the parasitical disease toxoplasmosis were found to be 2-3 times more likely to be in a road accident. Cysts which form in the nerves and muscle tissue could reduce people's ability to concentrate, they say. The parasite Toxoplasmosis gondii is commonly found in nerve and muscle tissue but is thought to be harmless. However, the Czech research team reckons it could reduce people's ability to concentrate. Dr. Ruth Gilbert, a UK Toxoplasmosis expert, warns that the study conclusions should be treated with caution and more study is needed. Drivers.com Mexico's estimated 375,000 freight trucks have been in service for an average of 15 to 20 years, compared with 5 years for most U.S. trucks. Industry leaders say it would take annual investments of $1 billion over the next 10 years to get Mexico's fleet into an age bracket similar to that of U.S. trucks. Associated Press Traffic Educator & Contributor Nomination forms for the Outstanding Traffic Educator of the Year and Contributor/Sustainer of the Year awards will be sent to all Montana high school principals and active MTEA members. A reminder that the deadline for all nominations is March 15` Send nomination forms to the MTEA address. MTEA keeps an active file of all nominees from the most recent three- year period. Those previously nominated are eligible, provided they meet the criteria. Consider honoring fellow traffic educators and local supporters of your program. The more nominees, the better! AUTO THEFT PREVENTION Every 20 seconds, someone steals a vehicle in the United States. Don't let one of them be yours. Here's how you can cut the chances of being a victim of auto theft:
LICENSE PLATES THAT TALK "Electronic number plates" with the capability to give out information about a vehicle as it passes through a toll booth, are being tested in Nogoya, Japan. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to test the plates next year. The license plates will be equipped with a chip that carries information about the vehicle such as license number, vehicle inspection certificate and fuel efficiency. The Nagoya trial will also include information about the car owners who are physically handicapped or elderly. The information will be collected by antennas as the vehicles pass the toll booths and will potentially be used to calculate different toll rates. Drivers. Com RETIRING If you will be retiring from education this year and are an active MTEA member, please let Jim Carroll know at the MTEA address as soon as possible. If you are an active MTEA member, you will receive a form with the January mailing. This mailing will also include forms for Teacher and Contributor of the Year Awards. Application deadlines are March 1. For more information, contact Jim Carroll at the MTEA address. MTEA Membership If you plan on attending the spring conference in Whitefish, your membership into MTEA automatically renews with your conference payment. If you will not be attending this year, please consider supporting MTEA by renewing your membership. Dues are $25.00 per year. After spending 3 '/2 hours enduring the long lines, surly clerks and insane regulations at the Department of Motor Vehicles, I stopped at a toy store to pick up a gift for my son. I bought my selection- a baseball bat- to the register. "Cash or charge?" the clerk asked. "Cash," I snapped. Then apologizing for my rudeness, I explained, "I've spent the afternoon at the motor-vehicle bureau." "Shall I gift wrap the bat?" the clerk asked sweetly. "Or are you going back there?" THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY IN MONTANA America's automobile industry doesn't just manufacture the passenger cars and light trucks that millions of Americans depend on for work, shopping, vacation and other mobility needs. Auto manufacturers, along with their suppliers and dealers, drive the U.S. economy, and that economic engine has more horsepower than many people realize. In Montana, almost 3 percent of the state's workforce is employed in either the automobile industry or in a job dependent on the auto industry. Other pertinent facts on the contribution of the automobile industry in Montana follow: MONTANA AUTO INDUSTRY EMPLOYMENT · THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY DIRECTLY EMPLOYS 2,500 WORKERS IN Montana, including production workers, engineers, sales and marketing employees and other corporate staff. · 3,400 jobs are related to the auto industry, including suppliers of parts and components, suppliers of raw materials, and support services such as advertising and engineering consultants. · When spin-off employment is included, a total of 12,000 Montana jobs are dependent on the auto industry. · The auto industry generates $300 million in wages and benefits, including spin-off employment, in Montana. DEALERSHIPS · Montana has 143 new-car dealerships. · These dealerships generate about $1.6 billion in annual sales. MONTANA MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers |
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