November 11, 2006
Open Letter from the Sheriff's Office

Dear Concerned Citizen of Bedford County,

             We are writing you this letter to encourage you to contact your insurance company and other community leaders to join with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and Bedford County Public School System in support for a program that we are starting for the youth of Bedford County.

             This program (BEDCO CARES) Bedford County Combined Accident Reduction Effort will help reduce the injuries and fatalities among our youth in Bedford County. Our goal is to raise community awareness and urge financial support to bring this program to Bedford County.

 BEDCO CARES is a driving simulator program designed to train young drivers how to better control a vehicle in a multitude of dangerous situations that could be encountered out on the open road. Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of our youth between ages of 16 to 21 years of age. By having these driving simulators available to our young people in addition to their driver education training, the exposure to simulated road conditions and other scenarios would be invaluable driving experience in the safest environment, before they venture out on the road. 

 The PatrolSim III Driver Training Simulator technology incorporates a number of features to more closely replicate risk situations and emulate the operation of an actual vehicle, including detailed features of streets and buildings to add to the visual realism, Night, day, adverse weather scenes with realistic limited visibility, street sign readable one (1) block away, Graphical-based operators console that allows the instructor to observe the juvenile’s performance and easily interact with his/her training.

 The SkidCar Training is based on the idea that it is the driver who subjects their vehicle to physical forces and that it is the driver’s ability to make sound judgments that minimize risk, this is accomplished by electro-hydraulic pump that raise or lowers the vehicle tires from the road, duplicating hazardous driving conditions such as ice, snow, rain or slick roads from gas or oil spills. This low speed training teaches drivers how to avoid skids and loss of control.

 Your interest and support is greatly appreciated. 

 If you have any further questions please feel free to contact Captain Mike Miller or

Sgt. David Marsh at 540-586-4800. ext. 4012 or  ext 4041.

  Contact: Robin Sundquist, Admin Officer 540-586-7715

  Safe Surfin’ Foundation www.safesurfincentral.org