June 6, 2025, Press Release from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office:
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) and the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) are partnering at a free event where teen drivers can practice crash avoidance techniques and gain the experience necessary to become safer drivers. OTSO’s Advanced Driver Training Summer Series allows students to practice skid recovery, anti-lock braking system (ABS) exercises and other skills with a licensed instructor on a closed course. These specially designed classes address the leading causes of teen crashes in Ohio which include failure to control, failure to yield, and unsafe speed.
Instructors from Ohio-based DriveTeam will provide the training at Apollo Career Center on June 10 and 11. Newly licensed drivers or teens with a valid temporary permit are welcome to participate in one of these free sessions. OSHP will be there to provide a presentation on the importance of safe driving at the beginning of each session.
The summer series is being conducted during the “100 deadliest days” – the time period between Memorial Day and Labor Day that historically accounts for more than a third of all fatal crashes.
- In 2024, there were 90 fatal youth-related crashes in Ohio during the “100 deadliest days”.
- In Allen County last year, drivers under age 24 were involved in 34% of all crashes.
- There were 991 youth-related crashes in Allen County alone in 2024 – that’s an average of almost three crashes almost every day.
Spots are still available on both days, and advance registration is required to participate. The link to register is on the summer series calendar on OTSO’s Advanced Driver Training resource web page.
It’s important to note that this free training opportunity is separate from the required training that teens must complete in order to get their driver’s license – which is 24 hours of classroom instruction, and eight hours of behind the wheel training with a licensed instructor.
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As a division within the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) is dedicated to saving lives and preventing injuries on Ohio’s roads by using creative leadership, innovative education and comprehensive enforcement programs. OTSO strives to work in partnership with local, state and federal entities to advance equity in highway safety programs, ensuring they benefit all road users in Ohio. For FFY2025, OTSO awarded over $24 million in federal funds to 145 Ohio agencies for statewide programming to improve traffic safety and reduce traffic-related fatalities. Learn more about OTSO’s initiatives at https://otso.ohio.gov
