Free Indy Event Teaches Teens Safe Driving Skills at Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) are teaming up for a pretty important cause: keeping teens safe on the roads. Their new effort, called Rule the Road: Teens Safe Driving Summer 2025, is happening right at IMS, which honestly sounds like a dream for any young driver.

This isn’t just another boring driving class. Rule the Road mixes real driving practice with some classroom learning. Teens get to pick up skills and knowledge that actually matter out there.

They’ll learn from seasoned driving instructors and law enforcement officers. That means they’ll get plenty of practical tips and maybe even a story or two from those who’ve seen it all.

Empowering Teens with Safe Driving Skills

The hands-on part is where things get interesting. Teens jump into real-world driving exercises, but in a safe, controlled setting.

Here are a few of the main things they’ll do:

• Emergency Braking: Teens practice slamming on the brakes in emergencies. It’s all about knowing how to stop fast when it counts.
• Skid Recovery: They learn what to do if the car starts skidding—super useful when roads get slick or weather gets ugly.
• Distracted Driving Simulation: This one’s eye-opening. Teens see just how risky it is to lose focus, even for a second.

Classroom Instruction and Interactive Workshops

The program isn’t just about driving. There’s a classroom side, too, with workshops on everything from basic car care to what happens if you break the law behind the wheel.

It’s not all lectures, either. They cover a bunch of topics that actually matter:

• Understanding Traffic Laws: Teens get a crash course in the rules of the road. It’s more than just memorizing signs.
• Impaired Driving: They talk about the real dangers of driving under the influence—and the consequences that come with it.
• Vehicle Maintenance: Teens learn how to check tire pressure, oil levels, and just keep their car running safely. It’s basic stuff, but honestly, not everyone knows it.

Community Involvement and Support

This whole thing relies a lot on the community. IMS and ICJI have pulled in local schools, businesses, and law enforcement to help spread the word and get more teens involved.

Schools are a big part of making this happen. Many have added Rule the Road to their driver’s ed classes, which means more students get a shot at it.

Local businesses aren’t sitting on the sidelines, either. They’re pitching in with sponsorships and resources, showing they care about keeping their community safe.

Law enforcement agencies play a pretty hands-on role, too. Officers join in as instructors, sharing what they’ve learned from years on the job.

That kind of interaction helps teens see police as real people, not just authority figures, and builds some mutual respect along the way.

Long-Term Impact and Goals

At the end of the day, the hope is to see fewer accidents involving teen drivers. If this program can help even a handful of teens become safer drivers, that’s a win.

Maybe it’s ambitious, but creating a new generation of responsible drivers could make a real difference on Indiana’s roads.

Measuring Success

IMS and ICJI will track different metrics to measure the success of the *Rule the Road* program. They’ll look at the number of participants, changes in teen traffic accident rates, and feedback from both teens and their families.

This data will point out what needs work and help keep the program relevant for young drivers. It isn’t always easy to tell if these programs really stick, but tracking these things seems like a solid start.

By mixing hands-on driving with classroom lessons, IMS and ICJI aim to give teens the skills they actually need on the road. If you want more details, check out the official site of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.