It's a brilliant business model: a driving school that's owned and operated by active police officers. The new 911 Driving School in north Marysville, one of 42 offices across the country, is owned by three active duty Arlington police officers-Peter Barrett, Ronnie Johnstone and Seth Kinney.

"We are convinced that police officers are the best instructors," said Barrett, a 7-year veteran of the Arlington police force. "We see the effects of poor decision-making every day on the roads. We have a complete vested interest in helping kids become good drivers."

Barrett, Johnstone and Kinney collectively have over 20 years of law enforcement experience. Each has received more than 700 hours of professional training in vehicle operations, traffic enforcement and communication skills.

"Kids have to learn a very valuable skill in a very short time," said Barrett. "It's imperative that they have passionate instructors who are well-versed in current traffic laws and engage students by sharing real-life first-hand experiences."

911 Driving School aims to reduce the amount of accidents and traffic violations, but its primary goal is to ensure that each driver comes home safely every time they get behind the wheel.

The new driving school, located at 11603 State Ave. #D in Marysville, celebrated a grand opening and ribbon-cutting on Monday, May 2. The school is offering a $100 discount off class tuition through May 31. For information, visit www.911drivingschool.com or call (360) 658-0911.