Photo: NDDOT

BISMARCK, N.D. (NDDOT) – The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) hosted a free, one-day safety event yesterday for more than 100 drivers ages 14-18 at the VFW Sports Center in Bismarck.

Vision Zero Driving Skills for Success gave teens the opportunity to drive through a closed course with various types of distractions, view the consequences of not wearing a seat belt through the rollover simulator and experience virtual simulators that focused on impaired and distracted driving prevention. Each scenario allowed the driver to feel or witness the real-life effect their choices can have in a controlled environment.

Other important stations included teaching teens how to parallel park and what to do if their vehicle gets a flat tire through a car care clinic. In addition to these interactive stations, drivers also had the opportunity to participate in the North Dakota Safety Council’s (NDSC) Alive at 25 defensive driving course.

In 2020 in North Dakota, teen drivers accounted for 5% of all licensed drivers but are behind the wheel in nearly 20% of all crashes. Teen drivers in North Dakota were involved in 12% 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: zero fatalities and serious injuries from motor vehicle crashes on North Dakota roads.

This safety event was in partnership with the NDDOT, NDSC – Alive at 25, Bismarck Police Department, Dickinson Police Department, Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office, Morton County Sheriff’s Office, Ward County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota Highway Patrol, ABATE of North Dakota, North Dakota Parks and Rec, Tires Plus, Vision Zero Outreach Program, Puklich Chevrolet and North Dakota Motor Carriers Association.

For more information on the Vision Zero traffic safety initiative, visit VisionZero.ND.gov.