New State Program Gears Toward Teen Driver Safety

Yesterday, the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) unveiled a new program designed to teach teens safe driving skills. The program takes aim at a nationwide problem: the high fatality rates in drivers under 20 years old.

The program consists of materials that will be available to parents of drivers receiving their learner’s permit in DMV offices throughout the state. The materials include manuals such as a driver’s log and advice for parents on teaching proper driving techniques such as parking or driving on the interstate.

The program, according to DMV Director Rhonda Lahm, encourages young drivers to experience being behind the wheel in a variety of conditions while their parent is there for support. It is hoped that the program will reduce the number of teen deaths due to inexperience and poor habits, such as never wearing a seat belt.

The program will be a requirement for teens seeking their unrestricted driver’s license in Nebraska. The Ford Motor Company covers the costs of the program and is a partner in the effort, and the material was created by the Safe Roads Alliance, a non-profit highway safety advocacy group. For more information about the program, contact your local DMV office.