The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the Ford Motor Company Fund recently awarded $94,000 in grants to programs in four states that advance access to safe mobility for teens in underserved and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.
In 2021, nearly 43,000 people died in traffic accidents on U.S. roads, a 16-year high, and vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teenage deaths.
The Missouri Department of Transportation is sponsoring driver education training for teens in foster care. There are 4,578 teens in the state’s foster care system. Many do not have the resources or support needed to complete novice driver training under the state’s Graduated Driver License law.
The Montana Department of Transportation is partnering with Safe On All Roads to establish a teen peer-to-peer program to create distracted driving messaging campaigns for Native American teens.
The New York Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee and Teen Driving Solutions will bring hands-on driver education opportunities to teens.
The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office will partner with Oklahoma Challenge and Work Zone Safe to provide resources to teen leaders and advisors from the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America and 4-H programs. Their focus will be on rural roads, which account for the greatest number of driving fatalities among teens.