Teens in the Driver Seat

A peer-to-peer safe driving program for your school.

Follow us @teensdriverseat

History and Recognition

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

2020

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