Hands-on driver training
Teens learn best by doing. Students get behind the wheel in a controlled environment, practise defensive techniques, meet challenging situations and learn how to respond — before they meet them on the road for real.
Teen Defensive Driving School
Preparing our kids
to be safer drivers.
Two days. Three hours in the classroom, three hours behind the wheel. Taught by active firefighters, police officers and EMS drivers who have spent their careers on the roads your teenager is about to drive. Held at the Carolina Exotic Car Club.
Safety · Preparation · Training
Our mission is simple:
save lives.
The school helps young drivers build the skills and confidence to stay safer behind the wheel. The training goes past the basics — real-world driving situations, crash avoidance and the kind of decision-making that only comes from practising it.
Sponsored by the Carolina Exotic Car Club and the Ride of Your Life Foundation 501(c)(3). Your $95 is donated to the foundation.
The DDS experience
How the school works.
Taught by trusted officials
Police officers, EMS and firefighters bring firsthand knowledge from years of working on North Carolina roads — practical instruction, real incidents, and an honest account of what dangerous choices actually cost.
Emergency preparedness
Handling a breakdown safely, changing a tire, responding to common vehicle emergencies, and knowing when and how to call for help — so they stay calm and make smart decisions when something goes wrong.
Session 1 — Friday
6:00–9:00 PM · Classroom
- Safe and defensive driving habits
- Identifying and managing risks on the road
- Understanding North Carolina traffic laws
- Sharing the road with drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians
- Handling adverse conditions — rain, snow, low light
- Responding in emergency situations
Session 2 — Saturday
9:00 AM–12:00 PM · Behind the wheel
- Every student drives with a certified instructor
- Practising Friday's material in real time
- Hazard recognition and crash avoidance exercises
- Roadside skills — breakdowns, tire changes, when to call for help
- Held at CECC, 3107 Glen Royal Rd, Raleigh
Before you register
Frequently asked.
- Minimum 16 years old
- Must hold a valid driver's license
- One parent or legal guardian must attend the entire in-person portion with their teen
Two reasons. We believe parents should take an active role in their teen's driver education — and a parent must be present to sign the liability and legal waivers the school requires.
$95 per student. That fee is donated to the Ride of Your Life Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
A three-hour classroom session and a three-hour behind-the-wheel session, on two separate days. Classes are hosted at the Carolina Exotic Car Club, Glen Royal Road, Raleigh NC 27617.
No. DDS is defensive driving training taken after your teen has received their license — it isn't a substitute for driver's ed.
Proof of identity — the student's driver's license — provided by a parent or legal guardian, plus the parent or guardian for the whole in-person portion.
“My child attended DDS and I couldn't have been more pleased. The instructors were so kind and knowledgeable. My kid had a great time.”Parent
“I highly recommend this program to any parents with teenagers. You will not regret it.”Parent
“I actually attended this program with my teenager, and even as an adult I learned so much. Highly recommend.”Parent
Registration
Register your teenager.
Reserve a spot below. We'll confirm by email and send the payment link and the waiver your parent or guardian signs on the first evening.
Our sponsors
Why we can charge $95.
The school runs because the Carolina Exotic Car Club donates the venue and the Ride of Your Life Foundation covers the rest. Every teen deserves this training regardless of what their family can afford — if the fee is a barrier, tell us in the notes and we'll work it out.
Carolina Exotic Car Club
Ride of Your Life Foundation