Ohio Governor Mike DeWine visited Springfield today to announce a new traffic safety initiative in Clark County that will train members of the local migrant community on safe driving skills. The Maria Tiberi Foundation and Virtual Driver Interactive donated 10 new driving simulators to the Ohio Department of Public Safety's Ohio Traffic Safety Office for use in Springfield and Clark County. The new simulators have been placed in locations that serve members of the Haitian community who have recently migrated to the area in large numbers and have had little or no driver training. “One of the big issues we've seen with migrants in Clark County is that they are not used to driving here," said Governor DeWine. "With the generous donations from the Maria Tiberi Foundation and Virtual Driver Interactive, this new program will help the Haitian population learn the rules of the road and allow them to practice defensive driving skills that can keep everyone on the roads safe." This technology will give new drivers the opportunity to experience dangerous driving scenarios and hazards in a simulated environment, allowing them to practice their response to real-world obstacles without putting themselves or others at risk. Training scenarios include driving in severe weather; hydroplaning and skidding; overcorrection; distracted driving; variable traffic density; parallel parking and backing up; dangers of speeding; and the importance of seat belts. "We need to educate our new drivers better and these simulators are a big step in the right direction," said Dom Tiberi, cofounder of the Maria Tiberi Foundation. “We want new drivers to learn in a safe environment. Don’t learn it on the highway. I believe the use of simulators is a great educational tool." The 10 new driving simulators are located at: • Clark County Department of Job and Family Services (2) • Clark State College (2) • Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center (3) • High Street Church of the Nazarene (1) • First Haitian Evangelical Church of Springfield (1) • Life in Christ Community Church (1) Use of the simulators is free and will be managed by trainers and translators at each location. Anyone in Clark County working toward a driver's license can sign up to use the new simulators. Local licensed drivers can also use the simulators to gain additional experience in hazardous driving scenarios.