Why do drivers who understand traffic laws and know how to control a vehicle still make dangerous decisions?

ADTSEA-FL’s newest podcast explores the Goals for Driver Education Matrix, commonly known as the GDE Matrix. The framework challenges educators to look beyond steering, braking, traffic laws, and basic vehicle operation. It examines how personality, identity, emotions, passengers, social pressure, trip purpose, personal values, and self-awareness can influence what happens behind the wheel.

The full article includes the podcast, an updated five-level GDE Matrix, practical explanations for educators, and academic sources for those who want to explore the research more deeply.

ADTSEA-FL recently partnered with the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida to bring Driver Education professionals together for two days of presentations, collaboration, and statewide conversation.

The summit welcomed 30 participants representing public school programs, online Driver Education, commercial driving schools, school district administrators, ADTSEA-FL leadership, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and researchers from CUTR.

Eight presentations addressed topics such as:

• Building an ideal Driver Education program
• Progressive range instruction
• DELAP testing and program practices
• Teaching neurodiverse drivers
• Model curricula and statewide program alignment
• Florida program spotlights and instructional best practices

The summit demonstrated why statewide collaboration matters. Florida delivers Driver Education through several different models, and no single program, district, agency, or organization sees the entire picture. Bringing these perspectives together helps identify shared challenges and develop stronger solutions.

More than 300 Driver Education and Traffic Safety professionals from across the country gathered in Cary, North Carolina, for the 70th Annual ADTSEA National Conference. The conference theme, The Wright Way Forward: Inspiring Safer Roads, reflected a national commitment to improving instruction, strengthening programs, and preparing educators for the changing needs of novice drivers.

ADTSEA-FL Board Members Rich Greene and Derek Stewart

National Conference Highlights

• Instructional delivery: A teen panel explored the effectiveness of online, virtual, and in-person Driver Education.
• Mental health and driving: Researchers examined connections among mental health, risky driving, high-risk driver profiles, and implications for Driver Education.
• Behavior and hazard perception: Sessions addressed behavior-change communication, statewide hazard-perception training, and moving beyond scare tactics and statistics.
• Teaching emerging content: Workshops examined ADAS, artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, neurodivergent learners, parent seminars, and behind-the-wheel evaluation.
• Program leadership: Administrators and educators discussed competency-based instruction, quality assurance, testing practices, consumer protection, and strategies for strengthening Driver Education programs.

Teacher Excellence Award

ADTSEA-FL CEO Derek Stewart was recognized as one of the 2026 ADTSEA Teacher Excellence Award recipients sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation. During the recipient presentations, he shared Driver Education Teacher of Teachers, highlighting the importance of developing instructors who can build quality programs and prepare the next generation of Driver Education professionals.

National and Southeast Region Updates

• ADTSEA Academy: Members received an introduction to the developing professional learning platform, which is expected to expand instructor training and continuing education opportunities.
• National leadership: Rich Kearney of Vermont was elected ADTSEA President-Elect, and Kim Duelley of Tennessee was elected as a Southeast Region freshman representative. Derek Stewart (FL) and Robert Suggs (SC) are the senior and junior representatives for 2026-27.
• Strategic priorities: National discussions focused on ADTSEA’s strategic plan, its 2027 work plan, professional development, quality standards, partnerships, research, advocacy, and continued support for state programs.
• Southeast participation: Sixty-eight members attended the Southeast Region meeting, including five representatives from Florida.
• Regional priorities: Members requested professional development addressing neurodivergent learners, behind-the-wheel best practices, virtual instruction, private driving school needs, and access to recorded conference presentations.

Every advancement in Driver Education begins with people who are willing to invest in safer roads and stronger educational programs. Your sponsorship helps ADTSEA-FL expand professional development, advocate for quality Driver Education, support statewide collaboration, and create new resources for educators throughout Florida.

ADTSEA-FL welcomes both financial sponsors and strategic partners who share our commitment to preparing safer, more knowledgeable drivers. Together, we can build stronger programs, develop better resources, and create lasting impact for students and educators statewide.

Learning Together, Leading Together

This month reminded me that some of the best ideas in Driver Education begin when we step outside our individual programs and learn from one another.

Florida was well represented at the ADTSEA National Conference, but representation is only the beginning. Our responsibility is to bring the research, relationships, and practical ideas home and use them to strengthen what happens in classrooms, vehicles, districts, driving schools, and communities across our state.

Thank you to everyone who continues to participate, share your expertise, challenge assumptions, and help move Florida Driver Education forward.

Derek Stewart
CEO, ADTSEA-FL