Joliet Junior College recently received The National Safety Council's Star Award -- the council's highest honor -- at its 45th Anniversary Defensive Driving Course Banquet in Orlando, Fla.
Mary Ann Koerner, traffic school secretary; Amy Murphy, corporate and community services director; and Cheryl Ward, traffic school secretary pose with the Star Award.
The college won the award for achievements that exceeded all other training centers in the DDC-4 Region.
"We train more people in defensive driving than any other training center in Illinois," Amy Murphy, director of JJC's Corporate and Community Services division and supervisor of the Will County Traffic School, said. "Teaching people how to drive defensively is one of the most rewarding services we provide. All of us are proud to be recognized by the National Safety Council as one of the best among the best."
The college offers the defensive driving program to those given the option to dismiss a ticket from their record by taking the course, but it also enrolls people who may be able to reduce their insurance rates, or those who simply want to refresh themselves on the principles of safe driving.
Murphy said the program's success is shown through the positive feedback it consistently receives, even from those who have to attend due to a traffic violation.
"We get positive comments from students because our instructors are true believers in this program," said Murphy. "Many of them are police officers, but a lot of them are people from other backgrounds who believe in the value of defensive driving and want to reduce accidents."
JJC also offers the course to high schools and businesses. Murphy added that in November, employees at Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad were trained through the program.
"We are finding more businesses and area high schools expressing an interest in doing these courses on-site or just for them," Murphy said. "It makes good business and community sense to teach people the essentials of defensive driving. Everyone wins."
For more information about Joliet Junior College's Defensive Driving program, call Amy Murphy at (815) 280-1418, or e-mail amurphy@jjc.edu.