FREE Teen Driver Challenge Program

The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is committed to the safety of the community to include our most precious commodity, our youth. “The Teen Driver Challenge”, which is specifically designed for the teen driver. The Challenge was created by the Florida Sheriff’s Association in 2007 to address issues affecting teen drivers. Between 25-30% of teen drivers will be involved in a crash during the first year of driving. The Challenge is designed to educate and train teen drivers to recognize and eliminate distractions which could result in a traffic crash or fatality.

LCSO’s Teen Driver Challenge is a popular initiative that pairs the young driver with certified driving instructors. The instructors teach teens to drive defensively, how to react in emergency situations, and how to reduce risks faced as a teen driver. This program is offered at no cost to the student.

Sign up with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office

The Teen Driver Challenge is NOT an advanced driving course. It is a DEFENSIVE DRIVING PROGRAM that covers the following topics and driving exercises.

Topics {2 hours – Classroom}

Vehicle Dynamics
Human Factors
Responsibility
Liability
Drug and Alcohol Use
Night Driving
Aggressive Driving and Road Rages

Driving Exercises {6 hours – Driving Range}

Threshold, ABS, and Emergency Braking
Evasive Maneuvers
Cornering
Backing
Forward and Reverse Serpentine
Figure 8
Off Road Recovery
Skid Control

Requirements to Participate:

Must be between the ages of 15-19 (15 years old with a restricted license and at least 6 months of driving or 16 years old with a License)
Have a valid Florida Driver’s License
Have access to a safe vehicle
Proof of insurance for the vehicle operated
Child and Parent must sign a waiver of liability prior to taking this course

All classes will be held at Gene Cox Stadium, 601 Paul Russell Rd (next to the Fairgrounds).

The following forms are required by each student. Please download and complete prior to attending the course.

Please send inquires to Deputy Michael Halligan.

Deputy Halligan can be reached at (850) 901-7864 or [email protected].

More About the Florida Sheriffs Association’s Teen Driver Challenge

Visit the Florida Sheriff’s Association Teen Driver Challenge website

The Florida Sheriffs Association’s Teen Driver Challenge (TDC) was created in 2007 to address the primary factors affecting teen drivers – speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, texting while driving and distracted driving. The program is offered at no cost to teen drivers in 39 counties across the state and led by sheriffs’ deputies licensed as commercial driving school instructors. More than 2,000 students participate in a TDC course each year, with the demand for course participation often outweighing availability.

How much is this program needed? According to the Centers for Disease Control’s Motor Vehicle Safety division, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers. Roughly 25 to 30 percent of teen drivers will be involved in a crash within the first 12 months of getting their operator’s license. The Teen Driver Challenge was created to help prevent Florida teens from becoming a statistic.

TDC students are required to have a Florida Learner’s Permit or a valid Florida Operator’s License and have use of an automobile they usually operate during the driving exercises. The class will consist of lecture and driving exercises. Please note: the Teen Driver Challenge is not a supplemental or advanced driving course, it is a defensive driving program that covers various topics including: