'Creating A Safer Oklahoma:' Oklahoma Marks 1 Year Anniversary Of Work Zone Safety Course For Teen Drivers

In 2023, Oklahoma became the first state in the nation to require all teen drivers to put in a little more effort before earning their driver’s licenses.

“When I dug into it, I found out, that like most states, there’s only just one or two questions on the driver’s ed test … kids really weren’t prepared,” said Tom Robins.

He wanted to make safety education more than just words on a page, so he created the Work Zone Safe program, a free one-hour online course focused on safety tips for navigating work zones.

“They’re going to learn about seat belts, distraction, and speeding, and what they need to know as a teen driver to keep them safe in a work zone and with first responders,” Robins said. 

After it’s completed, teens receive a certificate they must present when applying for a driver’s license. In the first year, more than 60,000 Oklahoma teens have completed the course.

“It’s very well received by their parents, the kids that are taking it appreciate it, and of course, all of us benefit when everyone comes home safe,” said Robins. 

Bryce Boyer with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation applauds the program's success since work zones can be dangerous.

“We see hundreds of crashes in work zones across the country every single year, we’ve had more than 70 workers killed between ODOT and OTA in our histories, more than any other agency except for the military,” he said.

Boyer and Robins aren’t asking teens to take the course to check off a box … they hope what they learn sticks.

“It’s really all about creating a safer Oklahoma for everybody when it comes to being on the roads, and this is one step to do that,” said Boyer. 

As the state celebrates the milestone, everyone can celebrate that driving is a little safer now. 

“I'm really grateful to be able to have that opportunity and it's been an awesome journey,” said Robins. 

Wisconsin is the second state to adopt a similar idea, and its requirement went into effect Nov. 1.

To sign up for the course, CLICK HERE.