Four D.C. high schools will offer driver education courses this fall as part of a pilot program announced Tuesday by Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The courses will begin Sept. 22 at Coolidge High School, Eastern High School, Jackson Reed High School and Phelps High School. Thirty students from each school will participate in the 30-hour classroom curriculum, which will be taught by instructors from the Highway Safety Office, Impact Teen Drivers and Dexterity Driving School.
“In D.C., we have a unique transportation environment, and navigating our multi-modal city safely requires awareness and respect for everyone using our streets,” Bowser said. “This program will give our young people the skills to become confident, responsible drivers who keep themselves and their community members safe.”
School counselors helped select the 120 participating students, with preference given to those enrolled in career and technical education courses where driving knowledge could support future career paths. Beyond standard driving instruction, students will learn to safely share roads with pedestrians, cyclists, buses and other transportation modes.
The announcement comes as the District reports traffic fatalities have reached a 12-year low. Through Aug. 25, traffic deaths decreased 57% compared to the same period in 2024 and hit the lowest level since 2013. Serious injuries also dropped 8% year-to-date, continuing a trend that began in 2021.
“Safety is at the core of everything we do at DDOT, and it is imperative that we work together as a community to help keep every traveler on our roads safe,” said Sharon Kershbaum, director of the District Department of Transportation. “This progress shows the impact of smart engineering and strategic road improvements and reinforces why we must continue building on this momentum.”
City officials attribute the safety improvements to coordinated efforts in education, engineering, enforcement and emergency response.
As part of the United We Go campaign, the Highway Safety Office has distributed yard signs across the District reminding drivers to slow down, buckle up, yield to pedestrians and avoid distracted driving. Residents can pick up signs during business hours at DDOT headquarters at 250 M St. SE.
The Highway Safety Office offers these reminders:
- Drivers should slow down and yield to pedestrians and cyclists
- Pedestrians should wait for signals and use crosswalks
- Cyclists should wear protective and reflective gear plus helmets, and park bikes safely
Families seeking back-to-school resources can go to backtoschool.dc.gov for the 2025 Back to School Guide.
