GHSA and Ford DSFL award funds to support state teen safe driving activities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This year, through its award-winning Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL) teen safe driving program, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) will provide grant funding to State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) to augment their teen safe driving efforts. Five states will receive a combined total of nearly $70,000. This is the ninth year that GHSA and Ford DSFL have offered these grants to states.

All SHSOs were invited to apply. GHSA and Ford DSFL carefully reviewed all applications and selected Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky and Maryland to receive awards this year. Planned state activities include the following:

• The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is working with a number of partners to develop and deliver comprehensive teen driving "fairs" at high schools throughout the state. The events will feature exhibits to attract the students’ interest while delivering critical safe driving messages. Each school will receive a pair of impaired vision goggles for future use, and students will be provided with takeaway materials, including cell phone card sleeves, pledge cards and information pamphlets.

• The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is planning a Teen Driving Rodeo to teach young drivers about the critical factors in many teen vehicle crashes, such as underage drinking, impaired driving, distracted driving and other high-risk behaviors. The event will include hands-on, interactive learning stations arming teens with the skills they need to stay safe on the roads and reinforcing the important messages of buckling up, slowing down, not drinking and driving, and eliminating distractions while behind the wheel.

• The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s (ICJI) Traffic Safety Division will hold a seat belt contest for high schools across the state. Participating schools will each conduct a Quick Click Challenge in which teams of teens will compete against each other in a seat belt buckle-up activity. Schools will submit creative videos that include a safety message on the importance of buckling up. ICJI and its partners will judge the videos, and the winning school will receive a scholarship to help further their educational mission.

• The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is going to implement a Teen Driver Safety Day at the 2016 Kentucky State Fair, to be held in August, 2016. Activities for teens and their parents will include surveys on a variety of teen driver safety topics, social media, and live radio broadcasts through a partnership with IHeartMedia. Participating teens will be eligible for prizes, including two iPad minis.

• The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office will implement a Teen Driver Safety Program at four high schools during National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW), held October 16-22, 2016. Each program will promote a positive and fun environment where students can socialize with classmates while learning about a variety of key teen driver safety issues. Each event will feature driver and occupant safety educational activities, various exhibitors, and giveaways.

“Car crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for American teens, yet many states and local governments face a shortage of resources to address this critical issue,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “GHSA and our SHSO members truly value Ford Driving Skills for Life’s continued support of our safe teen driving efforts across the country.”

Since its inception in 2003, through its partnership with GHSA, Ford DSFL has visited every state with its wide array of teen driving programs and activities. In addition to the state grants, this year Ford DSFL has been to Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Upcoming stops include New York, California, Texas, Hawaii, Delaware, Oregon and Arizona. More information and the latest schedule are available at www.drivingskillsforlife.com.

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