NHS Drivers’ Ed Program Part Of Statewide Investigation

By Martha Coville

John Sousa, the owner of the Academy of Driving, sought to allay fears about the inadequacies of the drivers’ education program at Newtown High School. The Academy of Driving is the largest driver’s instruction school in the state, and teaches drivers’ ed at more than 50 locations, including Newtown High School.

The Academy of Driving is currently under investigation by the state Department of Motor Vehicles for violating a both safety and administrative regulations. The DMV alleges that the Academy of Driving employs unlicensed or undertrained instructors, and, in some cases, provides unsafe vehicles, with balding tires, for student driving sessions.

The DMV itself is also under investigation, by the state’s Attorney General’s office. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal alleges that the Department of Motor Vehicles ignored the reports of its own auditor, who over the last two and a half years, issued reports and complaints about instruction at the Academy of Driving.

NHS Charles Dumais said, “I haven’t received any questions, comments, or complaints about the current driving program” at NHS. He said that the safety of teenage drivers has become a statewide concern, and noted that numerous accidents and fatalities involving teenage drivers in Connecticut recently prompted Governor M. Jodi Rell to form a task force on teenage drivers.

Academy of Driving owner John Sousa said that 98 percent of Newtown students enrolled in his program pass the state driving test on their first attempt. He added, “I’m very anxious to defend myself.” He also said he only hires instructors who have passed the regulatory exam required by the state, and that he personally provides them with substantial further training. His vehicles, he said, are inspected for safety regularly, noting that the last inspection took place in February.