ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – This summer, teens have the opportunity to learn critical driving skills from Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers.
Registration is now open for the third annual Teenage Defensive Driving Program, held at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba June 26 – 28. MSP partners with Midwest Truck Driving School, Give Em A Brake Safety, and the City of Escanaba for the program.
“We take teens with graduated level two driver’s licenses from 16 to 19,” said MSP Gladstone Post Sergeant Patrick Janisse. “We put them in our patrol vehicles and go through five different exercises to at least boost their confidence and give them the ability to become more defensive drivers.”
Troopers will walk students through exercises like precision maneuvering, evasive maneuvering, serpentine, skid control, and controlled braking—all behind the wheel of a Blue Goose. Sergeant Janisse says those skills help young drivers form a foundation of good driving habits.
“The amount of confidence you see in a teen when they start the program and they finish at the end of their training session is amazing,” he said. “With static environments and exercises, teens learn how to adapt so that way when put in the real world, they actually know how to react and be safer drivers.”
The Michigan State Police hope to fill all 72 spots in the Teenage Defensive Driving Program. More than 60 are currently available, and registration will remain open through the start of the program if the program does not reach maximum capacity. Students will have one four-hour morning block and one four-hour afternoon block of instruction for one day only. The cost to attend is $75.
To sign up for the MSP Teenage Defensive Driving Program or to learn more, visit michigan.gov/upteendriving or call (906) 428-4412. The “waitlist” shown on the site is a survey that will get applicants in touch with an instructor.
Click here to see footage from last year’s program.
