Teen Driver Challenge

A group of teens standing with instructors wearing red shirts holding up a Teen Driver Challenge bannerDid you know that teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than any other driver? The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is committed to the safety of our young drivers. It is offering a program called the Teen Driver Challenge, which focuses on teaching teen drivers the safety skills necessary when driving. It is a free course designed to help teens boost their driving skills and lessen the chances of being involved in a crash. The program will provide a mixture of classroom instruction and hands-on driver training.

Teens 15-19 are eligible and MUST have a valid Learners Permit/Florida operator license for at least 6 months, and participants must provide their car. A current copy of a driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance is required. The class is limited to 12 students and all others will be placed on a waiting list for future classes.

The Teen Driver Challenge is not an advanced driving course. It is a defensive driving program that covers the following topics and driving exercises:

Classroom Topics (4 Hours)
  • Vehicle Dynamics
  • Human Factors
  • Responsibility
  • Liability
  • Drug and Alcohol Use
  • Night Driving
  • Aggressive Driving and Road Rage
Driving Range Exercises (8 Hours)
  • Threshold, ABS, and Emergency Braking
  • Evasive Maneuvers
  • Cornering
  • Backing
  • Forward and Reverse Serpentine
  • Figure 8
  • Off-Road Recovery
  • Skid Control

This program is backed by the Florida Sheriff’s Association (FSA) and supported by the Sheriff.

Required Forms (click to download and print):

The Class Schedule for 2025 is as follows:

  • Saturday, January 25th (UNAVAILABLE – CLASS IS FULL)
  • Saturday, February 22nd (UNAVAILABLE – CLASS IS FULL)
  • Saturday, May 3rd (UNAVAILABLE – CLASS IS FULL)

Be on the lookout for additional dates in the Summer of 2025!

These classes are limited to 12 participants on a first-come first-serve basis.

For more information on requirements and questions email School Resource Deputy Erik Hartsel, at [email protected].