Springfield, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine visited Springfield earlier this week to introduce a traffic safety initiative aimed at training members of Clark County’s growing migrant community in safe driving practices. The program, specifically targeting the Haitian population, seeks to address challenges faced by new drivers who may have little or no experience navigating U.S. roadways.
Driving Simulators Enhance Safe Driving Education
The initiative is powered by the donation of 10 state-of-the-art driving simulators from the Maria Tiberi Foundation and Virtual Driver Interactive. These simulators have been distributed to key locations in Springfield and Clark County that serve the Haitian community. The goal is to provide migrants with a safe and controlled environment to learn essential driving skills.
“One of the big issues we’ve seen with migrants in Clark County is that they are not used to driving here,” said Governor DeWine. “With the generous donations from the Maria Tiberi Foundation and Virtual Driver Interactive, this new program will help the Haitian population learn the rules of the road and allow them to practice defensive driving skills that can keep everyone on the roads safe.”
Real-World Scenarios in a Controlled Environment
The advanced technology of the simulators offers users the ability to practice responding to hazardous driving conditions in a risk-free setting. The training scenarios include driving in severe weather, hydroplaning, skidding, overcorrection, distracted driving, and navigating variable traffic density. Participants can also practice parallel parking, backing up, understanding the dangers of speeding, and the importance of seat belt use.
Dom Tiberi, cofounder of the Maria Tiberi Foundation, emphasized the importance of these simulators. “We need to educate our new drivers better, and these simulators are a big step in the right direction. We want new drivers to learn in a safe environment. Don’t learn it on the highway. I believe the use of simulators is a great educational tool,” he said.
Accessible Locations for the Haitian Community
The simulators have been placed in community locations that cater to the Haitian population, making the program widely accessible. The locations include:
- Clark County Department of Job and Family Services (2 simulators)
- Clark State College (2 simulators)
- Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center (3 simulators)
- High Street Church of the Nazarene (1 simulator)
- First Haitian Evangelical Church of Springfield (1 simulator)
- Life in Christ Community Church (1 simulator)
The simulators are free to use and will be managed by trainers and translators to ensure participants fully understand the training and safety lessons. Anyone working toward obtaining a driver’s license in Clark County is encouraged to sign up, and licensed drivers can also use the simulators to gain experience in challenging driving scenarios.
Building a Safer Community
Governor DeWine’s traffic safety initiative reflects his administration’s commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by Clark County’s migrant population. By providing accessible driver education, the program aims to reduce accidents and improve road safety for everyone.
For additional information about the simulators, interested individuals can contact the Ohio Traffic Safety Office at [email protected].
