Driver Education Research & Innovation Center Project
The Driver Education Research and Innovation Center (DERIC) Project provides free, standardized driver education resources to help reduce crashes and produce safer teen drivers in New York State. The DERIC curriculum was developed by teen driving safety, teen behavior, driver education, and curriculum development experts through a partnership between the New York State Departments of Health, Motor Vehicles, and Education, as well as the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.
“In Class” resources include classroom presentations, lesson plans, activities, and assessments. “In Car” resources include a sample lesson plans, driving skills checklists, and activities for student observers. Materials are broken down by unit and organized by in-class and in-car resources. Access materials by using the dropdown menus below.
DERIC Curriculum Units
Unit 1: Before You Drive
Hours 1-6 with (4) 90-minute sessions
In Class
All Unit 1 in class lesson plans, activities, and assessments.
Sample Presentations
- Session 1: Highway Traffic System and Graduated Driver Licensing Law (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 2: Know Your Vehicle (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 3: Signs, Signals, and Markings (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 4: Vision and Space (PDF, PPT Template)
In Car
All Unit 1 in car lesson plans, driving skills checklists, and activities for student observers.
Unit 2: The Driving Task and Environment
Hours 7-12 with (4) 90-minute sessions
In Class
All Unit 2 in class lesson plans, activities, and assessments.
Sample Presentations
- Session 5: Driving Maneuvers (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 6: Driving in Different Environments (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 7: Sharing the Road (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 8: The Physics of Driving and Occupant Restraint (PDF, PPT Template)
In Car
All Unit 2 in car lesson plans, driving skills checklists, and activities for student observers.
Unit 3: Driver and Driving Conditions
Hours 13-16 with (4) 90-minute sessions
In Class
All Unit 3 in class lesson plans, activities, and assessments.
Sample Presentations
- Session 9: Adverse Driving Conditions (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 10: Physical and Emotional Preparedness (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 11: Distracted Driving (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 12: Impaired Driving (PDF, PPT Template)
In Car
All Unit 3 in car lesson plans, driving skills checklists, and activities for student observers.
Unit 4: Additional Topics for Drivers and Vehicle Owners
Hours 17-24 with (4) 90-minute sessions
In Class
All Unit 4 in class lesson plans, activities, and assessments.
Sample Presentations
- Session 13: Emergency Response and Recovery (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 14: Owning, Insuring, and Maintaining a Vehicle (PDF, PPT Template)
- Session 15: Trip Planning and Navigation (PDF, PPT Template)
In Car
All Unit 4 in car lesson plans, driving skills checklists, and activities for student observers.
Bonus In Car: Mock Road Test
About DERIC Curriculum Development
- measure short-term changes in student knowledge related to the session content;
- help to determine whether the information is understandable and effectively presented by the instructors;
- and allow instructors an opportunity to provide their feedback.
The DERIC curriculum was developed and pilot tested by teen driving safety, teen behavior, driver education, and curriculum development experts to:
Additional Resources
For Parents
- Approved Driver Education Programs, New York State Education Department
- A Brief Overview of New York State Graduated Driver Licensing Law (GDL): A Parent's Guide, New York State Department of Health
- Upstate New York (excluding New York City & Long Island)
- New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens & Staten Island)
- Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk)
- Graduated Driver Licensing Law, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
- Parent-Teen Driver Contract, Governor's Traffic Safety Committee
- Younger Driver Safety, New York State Department of Health
- Teen Driving Safety Booklet for Parents, New York State Department of Health
- Younger Driver Resources, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
- Younger Drivers Toolkit, Governor's Traffic Safety Committee
For Driver Education Instructors
- Driver and Traffic Safety Education, New York State Education Department
- Driver and Traffic Safety Education Forms, New York State Education Department
- Driver and Traffic Safety Education Guidelines, New York State Education Department
- Educating Youth for a Lifetime of Safe Driving, New York State Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association
- Graduated Driver License Pocket Guide for Law Enforcement, New York State Department of Health
- Upstate New York (excluding New York City & Long Island)
- New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens & Staten Island)
- Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk)
- Share the Keys- New York State Resource Guide: A 60 to 90-minute interactive orientation program for parents and their teen drivers. Originally, developed by the New Jersey Division of Highway Safety and Kean University, it is a research-based, data-driven program designed to reduce teen driver crash risks through increased parental involvement. Share the Keys was then modified to be specific to the state of New York. If you are interested in hosting a Share the Keys program, please email injury@health.ny.gov
