COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Maria’s Message Safe Driving Days campaign, held in honor of Dom and Terri Tiberi’s daughter Maria, is designed to help young drivers learn to drive defensively.
Professional drivers offer free defensive driving courses during three one-day events in the summer months: June 10, July 29 and Aug. 19.
Registration now closed; check back for next year's schedule.
Students go through three drills:
- wet pavement braking
- emergency lane changes
- skid-car maneuvers
The goal is that, at the end of this event, students will have a better understanding of how important it is to be completely and totally aware and focused when they're behind the wheel.
This is not driver's ed. These sessions are not "driving lessons." They are designed to teach young drivers how to react in emergency road situations. The drills are complex and difficult and require some level of vehicle control. Drivers should have 10-15 hours driving experience at a minimum and parents should feel reasonably comfortable riding with them. Please do not register if your teen driver does not have this amount of experience.
Dom Tiberi believes these classes are essential.
"The skills that these kids will learn are critical and are quite frankly lifesaving. These kids will be put through the paces, and at the end of the day, each and every one of them will be better drivers."
In seven years, more than 700 young drivers have completed those defensive driving courses.
This year, 10TV and Maria's Message are partnering with Better Ohio Teen Drivers, a AAA-approved driving school.
There are three sessions each day: Group One is 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Group Two is 10:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.; and Group Three is 1:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. The sessions include classroom instruction.
The August 19 classes will be held at Safelite Autoglass Headquarters, 7400 Safelite Way, Columbus, 43235. Participants must have a driver's license or learner's permit. Participation is restricted to drivers ages 15 1/2 to 22. Participants and parents, where applicable, must sign releases.
Registration does not guarantee enrollment. You will receive an event information email which requires emailed confirmation from the participants before registration is complete.
Registration now closed; check back for next year's schedule.
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