DAYTON, OH – It’s National Teen Driver Safety Week and with COVID-19 leading many to virtual schooling, beginning drivers are also opting for online driver’s education courses to learn the rules of the road. Since COVID-19 began to make an impact, AAA has seen more than a 300% increase in enrollment  from January to September in its “How to Drive Online” course. More than 3,300 Ohio teens have used the interactive program that includes real-world scenarios this year.

"Parents are finding that strong online curriculum with self-paced learning is important for many subjects,” said Mike Belcuore, AAA Driving School Supervisor. “Driving isn’t a skill you are born with or that everyone is good at teaching. It’s likely the most valuable skillset that parents help their young adults learn.” Approved by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, AAA’s “How to Drive Online” is the gold standard for the solid foundation of knowledge and skills teens need to reduce their risk behind the wheel. 

The need for quality driver education is clear:

• Vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of teen deaths. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
• Teenage drivers have the highest crash risk per mile traveled, compared with drivers in other age groups. Young drivers tend to overestimate their driving abilities and underestimate the dangers on the road. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• In 2019, 94 drivers under 21 years old died on Ohio roads. (Ohio State Highway Patrol)

“How to Drive Online" is available at AAA.com/HTDOH to AAA members for $79 while non-members can utilize the program for $99. It not only delivers the rules and essential elements of safe driving in an interactive and innovative way, it also qualifies students for significant auto insurance premium discounts with most insurance companies upon course completion. The security of AAA’s expert and reliable 

AAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to 58 million members nationwide and more than three million members in Ohio.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  AAA is a non-stock, non-profit corporation working on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app (AAA.com/mobile) for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information, visit www.AAA.com.