2024
- Honda becomes a partner
2023
- Inclusion in the Governors Highway Safety Administration Spotlight Report as a Peer-to-Peer Teen Traffic Safety Program helping drive the decline of fatal teen crashes
- National Road Safety Foundation becomes a partner
2022
- Twenty-year anniversary
- Teens in the Driver Seat launches in Louisiana
- YDS app surpasses 1,000 downloads
- Partnership begins with Norfolk Southern Corp
2021
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety initiative expands to 12 more states
- Teens in the Driver seat launches in Washington
- General Motor sponsorship expands the program to an additional 27 states
2020
- Launch of You in the Driver Seat app
- Texas Statewide Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety initiative launches
2019
- Inclusion in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and United States Department of Transportation Peer-to-Peer Teen Traffic Safety Program Guide
2018
- Recognized by the National Association of Peer Program Professionals as a Certified Peer Program
- All TDS staff became Certified Peer Program Educators
- Union Pacific becomes a TDS sponsor supporting rail safety outreach
2017
- 15 Year Anniversary of the Teens in the Driver Seat program
- Enrollment milestone – the TDS program reach 1,300 schools in 38 different states and over 1.3 million students in high school and junior high nationwide
- TDS received 501(c)(3) designation through the fiscal pass through agent, Texas A&M Foundation
- 67 member cohort from 9 states sat on the Teen Advisory Board
2016
- Competition winner for Transportation Research Board’s 9th Annual Competition and Call, Communicating Concepts with John and Jane Q. Public
- Piloted the Teen Driver app
- 42 member cohort from 7 states sat on the Teen Advisory Board
- FMCSA becomes an partner to educate teens about safety around large trucks and buses
2015
- National Safety Council awarded Russell Henk the 2015 Teen Driving Safety Leadership Award
- Enrollment milestone – the TDS program reached 1,000 schools and 1 million teens nationwide
2014
- Inaugural Teens in the Driver Seat Summit
- Launched Zero Crazy (formerly “Catch the Crazy”) seat belt and distracted driving activity toward zero deaths
- Launched TDS program in Colorado
2013
- Launched TDS program in Nebraska
- Videographer Award of Distinction: “The Cypress Falls High School TDS Story”
2012
- Included in Governors Highway Safety Association Publication, Curbing Teen Driver Crashes: An In-Depth Look at State Novice Driver Initiatives, National Best Practices Guide
- San Antonio, Texas, Northside Independent School District’s 2012 Partner of the Year Award
2011
- Institute of Transportation Engineers Inc. Transportation Achievement Award for Safety
- Governor’s Highway Safety Association’s Peter K. O’Rourke Special Achievement Award for accomplishments in the field of teen driver safety
- Included in Governors Highway Safety Association Guidebook for State Highway Safety Offices, National Best Practices Guide
- National Best in T-Shirt Design 2011 from National Student Safety Program of the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association
- The First TDS Cup was awarded
2010
- National Safety Council Teen Leadership Award
- Included in Governor’s Highway Safety Association Guidebook for State Highway Safety Offices, National Best Practices Guide
- 2 Telly Awards: Overall campaign and “Disappearing Student” television PSA
- 2 Videographer Awards: “Disappearing Student” and “Horror movie trailer” PSA
- 2 Davey Awards: Activism & Non-profits for overall television PSA campaigns
2009
- USDOT & National Roadway Safety Foundation Award
- Included in USDOT Best Practices Guide for Safety
- The first Teen Advisory Board was established with 13 members
- Created the SponStar awards to recognize teachers/sponsors at the high school that contributed to the success of the TDS team
- Teens in the Driver Seat launched in California
- 2 Telly Awards: Overall television campaign and “I’m a Teenager” television PSA
- 2 Videographer Awards: “I’m a Teenager” and “Buckle up, dude” television PSAs
- 2 Davey Awards: Activism & Non-profits for overall television PSA campaign
- Recognized as the “Texan of the Week” by the Texas State Radio News Network, marking the first time this recognition was bestowed on a cause or program rather than an individual.
2008
- First Winners of the Annual Driving the Message Contest
- TDS reaches Connecticut
- First Teens in the Driver Seat Summit
- First Junior High School TDS program was established in Caldwell, Texas
- Telly Award for overall television PSA campaign
- Davey Award for overall television PSA campaign
2007
- National Transportation Achievement Award for Safety from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
- Global Road Safety Film Award (World Health Organization / United Nations)
2006
- President’s Award for Traffic Safety from the National Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
- Telly Award for “Text Messaging” television PSA
- Videographer Award for “Text Messaging” television PSA
2002
- Pilot Program begins in San Antonio, Texas