Governor DeWine launches safe driving campaign for parents and teens

6/10/2025

“Teach Your Teen to Drive” campaign resources, reminders

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently launched a safe driving campaign produced by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), highlighting resources and the importance of parental involvement in teen driver training.

Although Ohio law requires teens to complete 50 hours of driving practice with a parent or legal guardian before receiving a probationary license, OTSO believes the actual time many teens spend practicing with their parents is much lower. According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, there were 97 teen-involved fatal crashes throughout the entirety of 2024, of which nearly 70% were the fault of the teen driver. Of those drivers, 49% had their driver's license a year or less and 34% received no driver education.

The campaign directs families to the recently redesigned TeachYourTeenToDrive.ohio.gov, where they will find a variety of resources to help teens through the licensing process. Timing of the campaign launch aligns with the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers – the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day that is known for a spike in teen traffic fatalities.

Resources on TeachYourTeenToDrive.ohio.gov include:

• Parent orientation: A free, new online course aimed at equipping parents with the knowledge they need to successfully navigate the learning-to-drive process.
• Teen driver roadmap: An interactive page to guide families through the three phases of licensure.
• Featured videos: Several driver education videos aimed at teens are available.

Additionally, free advanced driver training will be provided by OTSO during six events this summer. Parents can register their teens for a session at one of these events by following the link on the advanced driver training page on otso.ohio.gov.