DES MOINES, Iowa — On Wednesday, the Iowa Department of Transportation announced a new national young adult safety initiative course as part of National Teen Driver Safety Week.

‘Alive at 25’ is a voluntary four-hour course that officials say has been designed to complement the standard driver education program. Participants will learn about the dangers and negative effects of speeding, distractions, peer pressure, and driver inexperience.

The Iowa DOT says young drivers who have a second violation on their intermediate license have the opportunity to complete the ‘Alive at 25’ program instead of serving a license suspension. If the course is completed by the deadline, the Motor Vehicle Division will lift the suspension, according to the Iowa Illinois Safety Council.

The Iowa DOT says the course was designed in collaboration with the MVD, DOT Traffic & Safety, University of Iowa and others, who analyzed crash data, current programs, and national best practices while devising the program.

“Alive at 25 is not a repeat of driver education,” says Iowa DOT’s Driver Education Program Manager Vania Boyd. “This program focuses solely on improving poor driving behaviors such as speeding, distracted driving, and peer pressure. Driving is a heavy responsibility, and we want to ensure young Iowans feel comfortable and confident behind-the-wheel, and our goal is to educate young drivers through interactive exercises and discussions aimed to improve their decision-making skills.”

The program targets drivers aged 15 to 24 and leads them through risk recognition, state laws including impaired driving and cellphone use, defensive driving techniques, and passenger responsibility.

The ‘Alive at 25’ program will be jointly administered by MVD and the Iowa Illinois Safety Council, with regular coordination to monitor student participation and course completions.

According to the Iowa Illinois Safety Council website, there are five classes planned between November 10 and December 1 in 2025.