Honda reaches 1 million students in young driver safety program

With nearly one-third of annual traffic fatalities in the U.S. involving drivers under the age of 25, American Honda Motor Co. says its multi-year safety education program is working to equip young drivers across the country with the knowledge and skills needed to drive more safely.

More than 1 million students have completed the Honda Safety Driven young driver safety initiative in partnership with Discovery Education.

“Even as Honda engineers continue to advance vehicle design and performance, the company believes technology alone is not enough to achieve its challenging goal of zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles by 2050,” a Honda press release states.

Honda’s safety strategy is committed to further advancing safety by:

• • Advancing technology
  • Augmenting safety awareness efforts to influence driver behavior
  • Working with government, industry, and community partners to improve the traffic safety ecosystem

The Honda Safety Driven initiative, in partnership with Discovery Education, applies real-world Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) concepts to empower students with safe driving skills and encourage responsible decision-making.

The educational initiative launched in October 2023 with a virtual field trip for students in grades 3-12, bringing them inside Honda’s one-of-a-kind Automotive Safety Research Facility in Raymond, Ohio, and the Driving Simulation Laboratory at The Ohio State University.

To date, the virtual field trip has reached more than 250,000 students, and Honda says educators are expected to continue to use it each new school year as part of their evolving curriculum.

“We are proud to achieve this important milestone of one million students with our safety-awareness program, but our real goal is zero, as in zero fatalities in traffic collisions involving our vehicles,” said MJ Foxley, safety strategy leader at American Honda Motor Co., in the release. “Research consistently shows that human behavior is a key factor in the majority of traffic fatalities in the U.S., and Honda Safety Driven aims to buck that trend by improving young driver behavior through innovative and fun educational experiences.”

The company has established a global goal to achieve zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles by 2050.

For the third year of the program, Honda launched a video series called “Honda Safety in Action: From Racetrack to Roadway – It Takes All of Us.” The series features IndyCar driver and Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon and champion motocross riders Jett and Hunter Lawrence of the Honda HRC Progressive racing team. In the videos, the drivers demonstrate how racing at high speeds can inspire real-world safe riding and driving habits.

The two-part video series explores safety for four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles, including bikes, e-bikes, scooters, and motorcycles, giving Honda a new way to engage with students by translating racing insights into practical, everyday safety tips, the release states.

“Safety isn’t just about what a vehicle can do; it’s about the choices people make,” said Catherine Dunlop, senior vice president of corporate partnerships at Discovery Education, in the release. “Our work with Honda meets students early, helping them understand how judgment, awareness, and behavior play a role in keeping themselves and others safe. Reaching one million students shows what’s possible when education and industry work together with purpose.”

Honda Safety Driven also launched two safety education resources online and through Discovery Education’s network in 2024: an interactive crash test video game and a digital lesson bundle.

The video game, called “Crash Course,” teaches students about the physics of a car crash and how different factors can affect the level of risk to passengers.

The digital lesson bundle teaches students about pedestrian road safety. It includes an educator guide, presentation, family action plans, and an accompanying e-bike and e-scooter safety student activity.

Honda also leads the Honda DriverCoaching app and three rider education centers in California, Georgia, and Ohio.

Honda says it and the Honda USA Foundation have contributed more than $8 million to nonprofit organizations and schools over the past four years to support programs that promote safe driving practices, awareness, and education on and off the road. The programs include education, training, and resources that supplement or go beyond traditional driver’s training courses or mandated state driver’s programs.

Images

Featured image: More than 1 million students have taken part in the Honda Safety Driven program to increase safety awareness and positively influence young driver behavior. (Provided by Honda)