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.
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.
These are not full-blown driving lessons. These are sessions are designed to teach young drivers how to react in emergency road situations.
Dom Tiberi believes these classes are essential.
“The skills that these kids will learn are critical and are quite frankly life-saving. 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 six years, more than 600 young drivers have completed those defensive driving courses.
This year, 10TV and Maria’s Message are partnering with Better Ohio Teen Drivers. The final course on August 13 filled up fast, and therefore registration is now closed.
There are three sessions each day: Drills at 10 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m. Classroom instructions provided 30 minutes prior to each session.
The classes are held at Roadmaster Drivers School at 977 Frank Road. 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.
