California Office of Traffic Safety Awards $400,000 Grant to the UC Irvine School of Medicine to Expand Youth Thriving Program to Parents

Irvine, Calif., Feb. 10, 2026 — The UC Irvine School of Medicine announced today that it has received a $400,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to expand its successful Youth Thriving in Life Transitions with Transportation Program to parents of teens of driving age.

Building on the success of its first year, the program — intentionally working in the heart of Santa Ana, Calif. — promotes safe novice young driver education and practices for youth and parents. It highlights the vital role of transportation and safety in supporting health, education and employment as teens transition into young adulthood. The program also fosters strong collaborations between Santa Ana communities, local schools and community-based organizations. The grant program runs through September 2026.

"Today, teen licensure is a much more involved process than once before. This is important for both teens and parents to know because the safety and well-being of the future teen driver is intimately woven into the process with a strong state graduated driver licensing policy that is known to reduce crashes and save lives,” said Dr. Federico Vaca, professor of emergency medicine in the UC Irvine School of Medicine, and director of the Brain, Body & Behavior Driving Simulation Lab.

Grant funds will support various activities focused on novice young driver safety, behavior and education, including:

• Educational exposure to traffic safety and safe driver behavior practices in the context of California novice teen driver licensure.
• Development and implementation of novel curricula for teens of driving age and for parents of driving age teens with intentional focus of the connection between transportation safety and future health, education, and employment.
• Equipping parents with the knowledge and resources to guide their teens through the process to provisional licensure, understanding California’s graduated driver licensing policy and recognizing core safety considerations in supervised practice driving.

“The Office of Traffic Safety is proud to support programs that empower young drivers and their families with the knowledge and skills to make safe choices on the road,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “This program connects traffic safety education with real-life outcomes while emphasizing the vital role parents play in shaping safe driving habits. By introducing these lessons early, we’re creating a culture of safety that lasts a lifetime."

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

About the UC Irvine School of Medicine: Each year, the UC Irvine School of Medicine educates more than 500 medical students and over 180 PhD and MS students. Nearly 900 residents and fellows are trained at the UCI Medical Center and affiliated institutions. The School of Medicine offers multiple MD, PhD and MS degrees, and students are encouraged to pursue an expansive range of interests and options. The UC Irvine School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Accreditation and ranks among the top 50 nationwide for research. For more information, visit medschool.uci.edu.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.