LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: teen drivers

  • Ohio Traffic Safety Office Announces Free Advanced Driver Training Summer Series for Teen Drivers

    Ohio Traffic Safety Office Announces Free Advanced Driver Training Summer Series for Teen Drivers

    Free hands-on training, with one location in Butler County this summer is available for teen drivers to practice crash avoidance techniques and gain the experience necessary to become safer drivers. The Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) is partnering with three Advanced Driver Training programs to increase access to these specially designed classes that address the leading causes of teen crashes. Newly licensed drivers or teens with a valid temporary permit are welcome to participate in one of these free sessions.

    This announcement comes during National Youth Traffic Safety Month, which coincides with the beginning of the “100 deadliest days” – the time period between Memorial Day and Labor Day that historically accounts for more than a third of all fatal crashes.

    • In 2023, there were 102 fatal youth-related crashes in Ohio during the “100 deadliest days” – about one fatality each day.
    • Young drivers in Ohio under the age of 24 are involved in 31% of all crashes, but only make up about 13% of licensed drivers.

    Advanced Driver Training programs allow students to practice skid recovery, anti-lock braking system (ABS) exercises and other skills with a licensed instructor on a closed course. OTSO recently produced a video and launched a new web page dedicated to Advanced Driver Training to better inform parents about these programs.

    Ohio-based Advanced Driver Training providers DriveTeam and Professional Driving Systems will conduct six of the summer sessions. OTSO is partnering with the Ford Philanthropy’s award-winning Ford Driving Skills for Life for the other two sessions.

    The Advanced Driver Training summer series begins in June at Nelsonville York High School in Athens County with Professional Driving Systems hosting two sessions per day. Seven more events will be held across the state through the end of September:

    DATE

    LOCATION
    June 8-9 Nelsonville York High School
    Athens County
    June 19-20 Canfield Fairgrounds
    Mahoning County
    July 6-7 Professional Driving Systems
    Montgomery County
    July 17-18 Zanesville High School
    Muskingum County
    August 3-4 IX Center – Cleveland
    Cuyahoga County
    August 7-8 Lima Senior High School
    Allen County
    September 21-22 Owens Community College
    Wood County
    September 28-29 Manheim Cincinnati
    Butler County

    Parents can register their teens for a session at one of these events by following the link on the calendar on OTSO’s Advanced Driver Training resource web page.

  • Expanded access to teen driver training through State grant program

    Expanded access to teen driver training through State grant program

    Agencies that wish to receive a grant must submit their proposals before Jan. 21

    Loveland, Ohio – There are expanded access to teen driver training for low-income Ohio families through the new “Drive to Succeed” scholarship program.

    Loveland area residents can urge their police departments, council members, or trustees to apply for a grant by forwarding this story to them. Whether you have a teen driver or not, all residents will benefit from safer teen drivers.

    Administered by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) and available via grants to local governmental agencies, teens selected for a scholarship by grantee agencies would attend an eligible Ohio-approved driving school in their area at little to no cost.

    Funding to establish these community-based scholarships will be awarded by OTSO to local agencies through a competitive grant process. Local government agencies, such as police departments, sheriffs’ offices, health departments, and others may apply for funding. The proposing agency must be in an area with a population of 5,000 or more.

    “The importance of driver training cannot be overstated, especially for our young drivers,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “This new program aims to remove the financial barrier that may prevent some teens from enrolling in driver education.”

    Data shows that young drivers under age 24 are involved in 31% of all crashes in Ohio. Youth-related fatal crashes have been steadily rising over the past three years with 296 fatalities in 2021 accounting for almost 24% of all fatal crashes.

    For the first time in Ohio, recent research has shown that new drivers under age 18 who complete the mandatory driver education under Ohio’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) restrictions were less likely to crash than drivers licensed at age 18 who are exempt from these requirements. Ohio is one of only 15 states with comprehensive licensing requirements that include behind-the-wheel training at a licensed driving school, in addition to classroom or online instruction, parent-supervised practice driving, and learner permit holding periods.

    Agencies that wish to receive a grant must submit their proposals before Jan. 21, 2023. The complete grant proposal and guidelines can be found online at Grants/Federal Programs | Ohio Traffic Safety Office.