TRENTON — The classroom walls of the B-Safe Driving Education school are covered with photos, each telling a story. Some are of success, while others are tragic.
Betty and Don Cepluch, owners of the driving school, said while the smiling faces of graduates adorn one wall, it’s the clippings and photos from area accidents — most of which resulted in a fatality — that get the most attention.
“I try to make them understand that they aren’t invincible,” Betty said while gesturing to the photos on the wall. “I think every young person and every human in general thinks that can’t happen to me. It can. Just look.”
A desire to make a difference in the community and educate young people on safe driving is what spurred the couple to open B-Safe in Trenton more than eight years ago. Now they also have an office in Carlisle and just opened a new location in Centerville.
The Cepluchs were approached by two instructors of a driving school looking to find someone to open one in the Centerville area. While some businesses might think it unwise to expand in today’s economy, Betty said it was the right move for them.
“We weren’t sure about Don’s job at (Mohawk Fine Papers) and we needed another location to support the staff we already have,” Betty said. “We’re dedicated to what we do and figured we would give it a shot.”
The couple strives to teach students not just the state requirements, but also situations they may not face in their area, like railroad crossings and roundabouts “because they won’t stay in their area for long once they get their license,” Betty said.
With a little more than 600 students enrolled in classes between the Trenton and Carlisle locations last year, the Cepluchs said they hope to get at least that many at the Centerville site to support its 11 certified instructors.
“There is a real need there,” Don said. “We can pull from a lot of areas.”
To learn more about B-Safe, contact the Trenton office at (513) 988-7233, or the Centerville and Carlisle office at (937) 743-2967 or visit bsafedrivinged.com.
