Vision Zero Driving Skills for Success (DSFS), an interactive driving program designed to give teens hands-on driving experience, is coming to Minot and Bismarck this summer.
Teen drivers with a permit or license between the ages of 14 to 18 are invited to register for the one-day event on Wednesday, June 19 at Minot State University or Tuesday, July 30 at the Bismarck VFW Sports Center. DSFS is free to attend.
Sessions are available from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. The Alive at 25 defensive driving course will also be available for teens who are interested. Alive at 25 is designed to reduce the likelihood of motor vehicle crashes in young drivers. This course is limited to the first 25 participants per session and will take place 8 a.m. to noon or 1 to 5 p.m.
Vision Zero DSFS allows teens to participate in a variety of interactive traffic safety activities. Teens will have the opportunity to drive through a challenging course with various obstacles, learn how to parallel park and experience simulators that focus on impaired and distracted driving prevention and the importance of wearing your seat belt.
In 2022 in North Dakota, teen drivers accounted for 6% of all licensed drivers but were behind the wheel in nearly 16% of all crashes. Teen drivers in North Dakota were involved in 11% of fatal crashes for the same period. Because of these statistics, it is important to continually educate teen drivers and provide them with opportunities to enhance their driving skills to move toward the goal of Vision Zero: eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roadways.
Register online at VisionZero.ND.gov.
A confirmation email will be sent from the North Dakota Department of Transportation prior to the event. Parents are highly encouraged to attend DSFS, but it is preferred to keep Alive at 25 as a classroom setting for teens.