Our key program for licensed Teen Drivers is SmartDrive Classic, a state-approved online Motor Vehicle Accident Protection Program certified by the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles and Delaware’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
During each Academic Year, SmartDrive visits high schools across Delaware, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and in the suburban counties of Southeastern Pennsylvania to engage all students in Teen Driver and Passenger safety programs –
SmartDrive DWI: Driving With Intelligence – a 40 minute auditorium program with important and current information on the dangers teens face in motor vehicles, both as drivers and passengers. This program is presented in cooperation with local, county and state law enforcement offices with their School Resource Officers or Community Outreach program to provide understanding of traffic laws, roadside traffic stops and next-of-kin notifications.
SmartDrive – Distraction & Reaction (and Impairment, too!) – an outdoor activites program provided to high schools, typically coordinated with in-school driver training or highway safety programs. The activites can include:
- SmartCart – Hands-on Distraction Demonstration using a specially modified Golf Cart) on a figure-8 course
- Impairment Baggo – backyard bean-bag games seem easy, but when the alcohol or marijuana impairment goggles go on, who knows where the bags may go.
- SmartKarts – Four wheeled pedal karts must navigate a narrow path through cones while drivers wear alcohol or marijuana impairment goggles.
- Scavenger Hunt – Students, working in pairs, are challenged to locate all the key controls, equipment, and maintenance items on a vehicle.
SmartDrive PROMISE – A spring semester program asking the each member student body of a participating high school to make an online pledge to be SmartDrivers or Passengers, and to share that pledge with their Parents. Winning schools and student organizations/leadership teams are rewarded with cash prizes based on the percentage of the student body who make the SmartDrive PROMISE.
Online Course Questions: Questions should be directed to 888.553.6543 between the hours of 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
Alternatively, you may send an email with your question to [email protected].
Scholarship Questions: contact “Pete” Booker, SmartDrive’s Executive Director by email at [email protected].
Fundraising and Development: contact Susan Booker by email at [email protected] to support the mission of SmartDrive,
To Arrange a SmartDrive Program (at a school or other organization site): contact Guy VanderLek at [email protected] or call 888.553.6543.
SmartDrive programs are free to Teen Drivers so that we may fulfill our mission of safe driving. We keep our programs free through the generosity of our grant makers, sponsors, and donors. One hundred percent (100%) of the money raised by SmartDrive is used for fulfillment of our mission.
There are only two exceptions to our free programs. Fees are charged for our hands-on programs – SmartDrive Distraction & Reaction and Girl Scout Car Care Badge. We must ask for reasonable fees as costs are higher due to the insurance, equipment and operating expenses, and staffing requirements for these programs in order to provide them in a safe and effective manner.
Please visit our SUPPORT page, where you can make an online gift immediately, using our secure and safe PayPal page. You do not need a PayPal account to donate through this page – major credit cards accepted.
For Program Sponsorships and other ways to support The SmartDrive Foundation, please call Pete Booker at 302.300.6989.
No, the SmartDrive Classic course is designed for you to go in and out saving your lessons as you work. Each of the first three (3) lessons require a minimum engagement time of 120 minutes. This is a state-requirement before a Defensive Driving (BASIC) course completion certificate may be issued. The Parent Lesson and The Essay are not timed. Those lessons not required in order to gain the Defensive Driving (BASIC) course completion certificate. Scores from the first three lessons, the Parent and The Essay are combined to determine the school year end post-secondary scholarship recipients.
SmartDrive requires the driver’s license information from all High School students who request enrollment in SmartDrive Classic. We do this by sending an email to your Parent/Guardian to collect this information and gain their approval for your enrollment.
SmartDrive does to protect minors under generally accepted guidelines for collection of their information on internet websites.
SmartDrive collects information required by the State of Delaware for approval of the Defensive Driving Program. Only licensed drivers may enroll in the SmartDrive Classic online motor vehicle accident prevention program.
Within the SmartDrive Classic online motor vehicle accident prevention program course, there are five (5) lessons.
The first three (3) lessons, require engagement by the student of no less than 120 minutes each.
Upon the successful completion of the first three lessons, the student will have completed the educational requirements for the Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Program [Defensive Driving (BASIC)] course completion certificate.
If the parent/guardian, when approving their child’s enrollment in SmartDrive Classic, has entered a valid state-issued Driver’s License number, the student will be sent the Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Program CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION (BASIC) via email upon completion of the first three lessons.
If an invalid or no Driver License number is provided by the parent, then this certificate will not be issued.
Lesson 4, The Parent Lesson, for the parent/guardian to complete, and will add to the student’s total score to be considered for scholarship and other prize awards. Completion of this lesson is not required to obtain the Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Program [Defensive Driving (BASIC)] course completion certificate.
Lesson 5, The Essay, will also add to the student’s total score to be considered for scholarship and other prize awards. Completion of this lesson is not required to obtain the Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Program [Defensive Driving (BASIC)] course completion certificate.
When a student has completed the first three lessons of SmartDrive Classic, a certificate will be issued to the student and sent via email.
Once received, take the Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Program
Delaware Insurance Discounts
In Delaware, state law mandates a discount of up to 10% on the cost of both Liability and Collision coverages for the person that has completed the program. The duration of the insurance discount is three (3) years from the date the course was completed.
SmartDrive will also report the completion of Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Program [Defensive Driving (BASIC)] to the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles where a 3-point credit will be posted to that person’s Driver Record. This point credit WILL NOT remove any previous point assessments on that persons Driver Record. The 3-point credit will also appear on the Driver Record for three (3) years.
To renew/increase discounts, the student will have to complete a Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Program (ADVANCED). These programs are not currently offered through SmartDrive.
Maryland/Pennsylvania Discounts
In Maryland and Pennsylvania there are no state mandated discounts, however, most drivers will be eligible for a defensive driving discount on auto insurance. However, policies may vary depending on individual insurance companies. Some will limit discounts to those who are mature drivers or teenage drivers, but others offer discounts to drivers of all ages. It’s best to contact your insurance company to determine your eligibility.
If the student has entered a valid state-issued Driver License number, the student will be sent the Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Program [Defensive Driving (BASIC)] CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION through email.
If no valid Driver License number is provided by the student’s parent, then this certificate cannot be issued.
The CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION can then be presented the student/parent/guardian to their automobile insurance provider/agent to obtain any discounts available on the cost of coverage for the student having completed the program.
The SmartDrive Classic online course is linked to high school academic calendars that typically run from September through June.
A student must complete the entire SmartDrive Classic online course – Lessons 1, 2 and 3, and have their parent complete The Parent Lesson. Following completion of The Parent Lesson, the student can submit an essay on a topic of importance to Teen Drivers. In order to review all the essay submissions, the cutoff date for Scholarship consideration is April 30th of each year academic year.
Scholarships
All quizzes in SmartDrive Classic are graded on a 100 point scale. Those scores, combined with maximum 200 point score on The Essay requirement of Lesson 5, determine eligibility for the end of the academic year post-secondary school scholarship awards and other year-end prize awards. Again, the cutoff date for Scholarship consideration is April 30th of each year academic year.
In order to be scored, all Essay submissions must be made prior to May 1st of the current academic year.
Year-end Scholarship awards and prizes are announced in late May.
Scholarship awards are for post-secondary education and are paid directly to the school where the student will enroll.
Prizes are delivered in the form of gift certificates from local and regional merchants sent to the winners by U.S. Mail.