Five states’ safety offices recently received grants from the Governors Highway Safety Association and Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL) to fund teen safe driving programs.
The grants were given to the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, the Montana State Highway Traffic Safety Office, the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office, and the Tennessee Highway Safety Office.
Funds will be used to produce traffic safety videos, run peer-to-peer projects, host safety events, create safety kits and run safety-themed contests.
“Inexperienced drivers pose a risk both to themselves and others on the road,” Jim Graham, Ford DSFL global programs manager, said. “The latest data show young drivers were involved in 4,853 fatal crashes in 2016. We are thrilled to continue providing states the opportunity to build programs teaching teens to make smart decisions behind the wheel and work to prevent these tragic incidents.”
The leading cause of death for 15-20 years old is vehicle crashes. In 2016, 1,908 teen drivers died in automobile accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Ford DSFL launched in 2003 and has trained more than one million people worldwide. It is holding safety training sessions this summer.