Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech), the premier provider of career-ready technical education and workforce development in Coastal Georgia, has been awarded a $181,061.82 grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) to expand and strengthen its driver safety education program through The Coastal Georgia Center for Driver Safety. Now entering its fifth year, this funding will support critical initiatives aimed at reducing distracted and alcohol-impaired driving among youth and young adults in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties.

The grant will enable Savannah Tech to continue building on its proven distracted driver and alcohol-impaired training programs, utilizing advanced virtual reality simulators and Fatal Vision impairment goggles. These immersive educational tools provide students with firsthand experience of the dangers associated with unsafe driving behaviors. The program is designed to serve high school students, young adult drivers and parents across the four-county region through school-based sessions and community events.

"Innovative projects like this are designed with the intent for Georgia and our nation to reach the realistic goal of zero traffic deaths by the middle of this century," said Allen Poole, Director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. "Each life saved on our roads is one less family that will have to live with the pain of losing a loved one whose life was taken from them in a traffic crash that was completely preventable."

"We are honored to continue our partnership with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in addressing one of the most pressing safety concerns facing our young drivers," said Atina Brantley, MS, Project Director of Driver's Education and Safety at Savannah Tech. "Through evidence-based education and hands-on learning experiences, we are empowering students to make safer choices behind the wheel and creating lasting behavioral change that will protect lives in our community."

During FY2025, Savannah Technical College’s Driver Safety Program exceeded all established objectives through the effective implementation of innovative instructional tools and community outreach initiatives. Utilizing Virtual Reality (VR) Simulators, the program set a goal to educate 5,000 teen drivers on the dangers of distracted and impaired driving and successfully reached 5,620 participants. Through the integration of Fatal Vision Kits, the goal was to engage 2,500 students in awareness activities highlighting the risks associated with distracted and drowsy driving, with an actual participation total of 8,468 students. In addition, the program planned to distribute 5,000 traffic safety materials to local high schools and community events, achieving an exceptional total of 21,258 materials distributed.

These outcomes reflect the program’s sustained commitment to advancing traffic safety education, fostering responsible driving behaviors, and exceeding performance targets through strategic partnerships and innovative educational approaches.

During the upcoming grant year, which runs from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, Savannah Tech aims to educate 5,000 teen drivers using VR simulators, engage 2,500 students with Fatal Vision event kits, and promote 25 monthly media messages focused on driver safety.

The Coastal Georgia Center for Driver Safety partners with local high schools, Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, Parent University, and Safe Kids Savannah to deliver comprehensive driver safety education. The program emphasizes a two-generational approach, educating both teens and parents to reinforce safe driving behaviors at home.

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety's mission is to educate the public on safe driving behaviors and implement highway safety campaigns and programs designed to reduce crashes and eliminate fatalities and injuries on Georgia roads. For more information, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.