Dayton Children’s Hospital receives $50,000 contribution to support teen driver safety

Dayton Children’s Hospital was awarded a $50,000 contribution from Honda to expand its teen driver safety program, Navigating Teen Driving Together.

The funding helps Dayton Children’s injury prevention team provide free resources, education and community outreach to parents and teens during one of the most critical times in a young driver’s journey. It will support staff time, educational materials, training tools and a digital media campaign—all designed to reduce crash risks and save lives.

“Dayton Children’s emergency department staff in our Level 1 Trauma Center see the devastating, and often lifelong, consequences that car crashes inflict on our teenagers,” said Amy Schopperth, RN, trauma program manager for Dayton Children’s Hospital.

“The generosity of Honda’s investment gives us the tools to empower parents and guide teens during a critical learning phase and, hopefully, prevent injuries.”

Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. In Montgomery County alone, 30% of all crashes in 2024 involved youth drivers, a statistic that highlights the urgent need for community-based prevention efforts. Research shows that parental involvement can cut a teen’s crash risk in half during their first year of driving, making support and guidance essential.

Dayton Children’s Navigating Teen Driving Together program equips families with practical tools and expert-backed strategies to navigate this high-risk period. The program includes:

• Community presentations at local high schools, conducted by injury prevention specialists from Dayton Children’s, focused on discussing safe driving practices and shared responsibility.
• Public events and outreach materials to raise awareness about teen driving risks and how to prevent them
• A free, three-week email newsletter series offering downloadable tools and guidance for parents and teens

“As part of our longstanding commitment to advancing traffic safety and our belief in Safety for Everyone, we are proud to support Dayton Children’s approach to teen driver education and help provide families with the tools they need to stay safe on the road,” said Bobbie Trittschuh, charitable giving manager at Honda.

Honda’s partnership with Dayton Children’s is one of many safety-focused initiatives the company supports across the country. From technology innovations to community contributions, Honda remains dedicated to creating a safer mobility future for everyone.

Families interested in signing up for the teen driving campaign can visit: childrensdayton.org/navigating-teen-driving.