Florida teen driver safety week

St. Johns County Tax Collector Dennis W. Hollingsworth told local Historic City News reporters that teen safety is a top priority for all driver license clerks at his office.

Since 1998 when the St. Johns County Tax Collector became the first in the state to assume duties of the Division of Driver License due to the closing of the state offices, Hollingsworth has made outreach to teen drivers a mission for his staff.

Examiners conduct road tests five days a week without appointment at the main office in St. Augustine. They also make appointments at the branch offices in Dupont Center, Julington Creek and Ponte Vedra Beach. Road tests are also scheduled with students on the campuses of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the First Coast Technical College and other area high schools.

“Receiving a driver license is one of the greatest experiences in a teen’s life,” said Hollingsworth, the parent of two teenage boys. “It is our responsibility and duty to the parents of our community that this source of a teen’s joy and freedom does not become the catalyst for great pain and suffering from a crash.”

The caring and qualified road test examiners take extra care to calm the nerves of new drivers while conveying the seriousness of driving privileges. They also cover extensively the dangers and hazards of driving distractions such as talking or texting on cell phones as well as friends in their vehicles.

Upon receiving their license, every teen driver is given a tote containing literature for teens and their parents reinforcing the lessons learned.

All offices of the St. Johns County Tax Collector will be participating in the Florida Teen Safety Driver Week campaign – “White Out Teen Crashes” by wearing white shirts Tuesday, October 19, and displaying campaign posters.