More than 350 Drivers Ed students will be back behind the wheel as a result of NW Insurance Council and its members.

NW Insurance Council, Members give Sno-King driving students a lift

When Sno-King Driving School abruptly closed its doors in late May, it left more than 350 driving students stranded.  NW Insurance Council and its Members were there to pick them up and ensure their driver training remained on course. 

So far, 235 students have received the required in-class instruction and time behind the wheel, totaling 765 driving sessions.

The council created a fund from a NW Insurance Foundation grant and individual Member company contributions that totaled $23,750.  The money is helping families cover the cost of continuing in-vehicle driving lessons halted suddenly in late April after the driving school’s owner left town.

“Because our members care about teens, we’re helping these students get the training they need to drive safely and avoid future collisions,” said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president.

NW Insurance Council teamed with the Professional Driving Schools Association of Washington (PDSAW) and the Washington State Department of Licensing (WSDOL) to ensure these young drivers can continue earning their drivers licenses.  In addition to the $5,000 contribution from NW Insurance Council and its members, individual members including Allstate, Enumclaw Insurance Group, Grange Insurance Group, PEMCO and State Farm contributed $18,750 toward the fund.

Driving instructors from PDSAW member schools are providing classroom instruction and in-vehicle driving lessons while the department of licensing handles student records. 

“The Professional Driving School Association of Washington felt it was necessary for these students to receive quality training,” said Fred Wright, PDSAW president. “So our member schools are going the extra mile to help.  Our goal is to quickly show these families the benefits of having a great driver training experience.”

A joint news release highlighting the coalition’s efforts generated positive coverage both locally and nationally.  The release resulted in 11 stories by KING TV, Northwest Cable News, KIRO TV, The Herald (Everett), Puget Sound Business Journal, Reuters, International Business Times, BREITBART.com, The Denver Post, The Houston Chronicle and Verticalnews.com.

“Building public trust and respect makes it easier for our member company agents and adjusters to serve their customers effectively,” said Newman.  “Positive media coverage helps the public see our Members as valued citizens in the communities they serve.”