CLAY COUNTY – The Florida Sheriffs Association is pleased to announce that State Farm has generously granted $50,000 to the Teen Driver Challenge, an educational course that trains teenage drivers. This program has contributed to protecting Florida’s teen drivers and everyone else on the roadway. State Farm has granted the program a total of $910,000 since 2011.

“We are so thankful for State Farm’s support that has been instrumental in keeping this program completely free for Florida’s teen drivers over the past 12 years,” said FSA President and Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis. “We look forward to maintaining this partnership to keep our roads safe and educate our youngest drivers about the dangers of speeding, driving under the influence and distracted driving.”

At the request of the Florida Sheriffs, the Teen Driver Challenge was created in 2007 to lower the high crash and fatality rate of young drivers. It’s the largest commercial driving school in Florida and is offered to teens at no charge. The program’s cost is covered by grants from State Farm and contributions from local sheriff’s offices. Under the Florida Sheriffs Association’s State of Florida Commercial Driving School License, instructors are certified law enforcement officers with accreditations from the State of Florida Division of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The program is currently available in more than 42 counties, including Clay.
“Instilling safe driving habits early on is crucial, and this program is a wonderful opportunity to do just that,” said Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook. “By providing our young drivers with the foundational knowledge and understanding of vehicle dynamics, we can contribute to a safer driving culture in our community for years to come.”
Statistics support the importance of the Teen Driver Challenge. According to the Center for Disease Control, teens are involved in three times as many fatality crashes as other drivers. Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of these fatal crashes. The Teen Driver Challenge aims to lower this rate by empowering teens with safe driving knowledge and practices. More than 2,000 students complete the challenge in Florida each year.

“State Farm strongly supports efforts that increase teen driver safety in our communities,” said Jose Soto, State Farm Corporate Responsibility Analyst. “Each student who enrolls in the Teen Driver Challenge Program will learn and benefit from the special knowledge and skills of these trained, certified law enforcement instructors.”

For more information and help to register for the Teen Driver Challenge, visit www.flsheriffs.org/law-enforcement-programs/our-programs/take-the-teen-driver-challenge.