Free driving safety program helping teens be safer on the road

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A no-cost driving course that includes a high-tech driving simulator is helping keep teen drivers safer.

In 2014, Indiana ranked number one in teen driver fatalities in the country, according to a study by WalletHub.com.

Boys and Girls Club, in partnership with UPS, is hoping to help reduce that statistic.

Driving under the influence has real consequences, even on a fake driving simulator.

“An impared driving program that simulates what it’s like to be under the influence of alcohol while driving a motor vehicle,” Boys and Girls Club of Zionsville Unit Director Glenn Sanford said.

Sanford said the simulator is one part of the teen driving safety program he helps run.

“We give them some classroom instruction, we have open group discussion, some impactful videos, and then they get time on the driving simulator as well,” he said.

He feels it’s important for the students, like Brock Pellam, to experience different driving situations before they get a driver’s license.

“When mom had started actually teaching my how to drive on the road I already knew a lot of the major stuff,” Zionsville High School Junior Brock Pellam said.

“It kind of puts them in that mindset of thinking about what they need to do ahead of time and starting to build some positive habits before they actually get behind a wheel and get out there,” Sanford said.

Pellam said it really made him more aware of how dangerous distracted driving can be.

“I know as well as the next guy that if you’re paying attention to the wrong thing you can either go headfirst into a ditch or right out your windshield,” he said.

The driving course is free to all teenagers ages 13 to 18.

It’s offered year-round.

To register for the UPS Road Code-safe driving for teens program, click here and enter your child’s name and age.