In a significant boost for young drivers in Lake, Geauga and Portage counties, the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve has secured $53,760 to bolster support for teenage drivers. Launched in 2022, the funding is part of the state’s “Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program” that alleviates financial burdens — principally the cost of driving schools — on families and ensures that eligible teenage drivers receive essential, expanded driver training. Earlier this month, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that 35 school districts and government agencies will receive grants totaling $2,495,655 from the program. The funding is expected to provide driver training to about 5,500 students in 43 counties. The awards are part of the second round of funding offered through the program, administered by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office. “This program is already helping hundreds of teens learn skills to be safer drivers, and we are happy to help even more young people receive driver training,” DeWine stated in a news release. “When young drivers know the strategies to stay safe on the roads, the roads are safer for everyone.” The announcement follows several traffic safety initiatives for young drivers launched by DeWine, including the Creating Opportunities for Driver Education Grant program that supports expanding driver training options in underserved areas. Vanessa Karwan, director of special services and accountability at ESCWR, emphasized the impact of the effort between the organization and the Suburban Driving School. “With this partnership, over 100 students from five high schools — Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools North High School, Willoughby-Eastlake City School South High School, Riverside High School, Madison High School, and James A. Garfield High School — will benefit from reduced-cost driver training,” she said. The necessity of such initiatives is further underscored by recent statistics from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, which paints a stark picture of the risks faced by younger drivers, with traffic crashes being “the leading cause of death for teenagers in America.” Moreover, the implementation of Graduated Driver Licensing laws has “significantly reduced teen fatalities and serious injuries, emphasizing the effectiveness of structured driver education programs.” Officials added the scholarship initiative targets students based on socioeconomic data, ensuring that those most in need receive support. Superintendent Jennifer Felker noted that by facilitating access to driver training programs, ESCWR aims to equip teenage drivers with the skills and experience necessary for safe road usage, ultimately, fostering safer communities for all. For more information or inquiries regarding program eligibility, interested parties are encouraged to contact the ESCWR at 440-350-2563.