Youth Programs

Teen Driver Challenge

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:

  • Teen crash facts
  • Knowing your vehicle
  • Using your senses
  • Vehicle dynamics
  • Drug and alcohol use
  • Aggressive driving and road rage
  • Figure 8
  • Threshold/Emergency Braking
  • Backing
  • Cornering
  • Forward and reverse serpentine
  • Off road recovery
  • Evasive maneuvers
  • Skid control

Are you ready to take the Challenge? Find a program near you.

 

You Can Support Teen Driver Challenge

The Teen Driver Challenge is offered at no cost to students, and we welcome corporate sponsors as well as individual donors to help us offset the costs for this important program. Please consider making an online donation or downloading our TDC donor form (PDF) and returning it with your support. Thank you for your consideration!

We Love State Farm!

State Farm is the major corporate sponsor of the Teen Driver Challenge. Their gift helps keep the classes FREE to teen drivers. Thank you, State Farm!

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Join Us on Facebook

If you're a graduate, want to know more about the program or just want to show your support, check us out.

TDC Instructors and Licensing

The Florida Sheriffs Association is licensed statewide by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles as a Commercial Driving School, license #3975. Each law enforcement instructor who teaches the Teen Driver Challenge is also licensed, under the FSA License, as a school instructor. Each student who enrolls in the program will benefit from the special knowledge and skills of these certified law enforcement instructors - not only related to vehicle operation but also cause-and-effect events related to driving.

Each new instructor goes through a rigorous "Train the Trainer" class offered by the FSA, or sits through an actual program course with an advisory group member or another established program's instructor.

TDC Instructors: View our instructor resources and learn more about becoming licensed under the Florida Sheriffs Association's Commercial Driving School.​