NORFOLK, Va. – Naval safety professionals have launched a revamped mandatory driving safety course aimed at providing traffic safety fundamentals to young Sailors.

“The online ‘Drive for Life’ course is completely redesigned to better connect with today’s Sailors,” said Cmdr. Benjamin Barrus, commanding officer, Naval Safety and Environmental Training Center.

Sailors who are 26 years old or younger must complete the four-hour Drive for Life course within 12 months of entering the Navy, per DoDI 6055.4 and OPNAV-M 5100.23. However, any Sailor who operates a personal motor vehicle can benefit from the training, and it can be a great refresher for those personnel returning from deployment who have not driven a motor vehicle or managed traffic in several months.

The course is not intended to replace continued guidance and mentorship provided by Navy chiefs and deckplate leaders, said Barrus.  “Chiefs play a critical role in helping junior Sailors understand the real-world importance of safe driving and how poor decisions can affect themselves, their fellow shipmates and the mission.

“The course serves as a supporting tool to reinforce these conversations, providing scenarios and examples that chiefs can use to connect with their Sailors and drive home the message,” he added.

Approximately 6 to 7 million motor vehicle crashes occur annually in the United States, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data. Navy-wide this fiscal year, there were 131 reported motor vehicle crashes as of Sept. 22, including 15 fatalities. Most of the crashes involved Sailors aged 29 and younger.

The NHTSA reports a decline in licensed young drivers, with 27% of 16-year-olds having licenses in 2020 compared to 46% in 1983. As fewer young people are getting driver’s licenses, it appears even more imperative to offer driving education for young Sailors who may possess less driving experience than previous generations.

Barrus explained the course focuses on traffic safety fundamentals, using realistic scenarios that feature two “relatable characters, Seamen Carter and Wainwright, to guide learners through real-world driving situations.”

The Navy-specific imagery and life-like visuals aim to make the training engaging and relevant while retaining its primary purpose: reducing personal motor vehicle fatalities among Sailors. The course’s curriculum focuses on the key risk factors below which the NHTSA identified as most common among young drivers:

• Driving in adverse weather conditions
• Speeding and safe stopping distances
• Nighttime driving challenges
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Motorcycle use, safety equipment and awareness
• Passenger distractions and peer pressure
• Seat belt use and safety equipment
• Cell phone use and distracted driving

The topics are presented in scenarios where Sailors must make decisions and experience the consequences of their choices, said Barrus.

The importance of this training cannot be understated, said Barrus. “Personal motor vehicle fatalities remain one of the leading causes of off-duty deaths among Sailors, directly impacting families, unit readiness and operational capability.”

The “Drive for Life” course is available for Sailors to complete on Navy eLearning, https://learning.nel.navy.mil/ELIAASv2p/?utm_source=mnp%20public.

1. After logging in, select course catalog
2. In the title, search for “Drive for Life” (The course number is NSC-DFL-03)
3. Select enroll > continue
4. Select the “my learning” tab at the top of the page
5. In the My Training Section, select “Launch” under the course number

For more safety-related resources, visit the Naval Safety Command website, https://navalsafetycommand.navy.mil