Michigan State Police Trooper Alex Carlson delivered 40 Call Sam Car Safety Kits to students enrolled in 906 DRIVE on Tuesday. In this photo, Carlson holds one of the kits items, an SOS banner. Each kit includes a reflective safety bag and roadside essentials such as jumper cables, a tire gauge, flashlight, SOS banner (as shown here), windshield scraper and other emergency supplies. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

ESCANABA — As teen crash rates peak during the summer months, students in the 906 DRIVE Segment Two driver’s education class received more than just a driving lesson Tuesday — they also went home with free roadside emergency kits, thanks to a partnership between Sam Bernstein Law and the Michigan State Police (MSP).

MSP Trooper Alex Carlson delivered 40 Call Sam Car Safety Kits to students enrolled in 906 DRIVE. Each kit includes a reflective safety bag and roadside essentials such as jumper cables, a tire gauge, flashlight, SOS banner, windshield scraper and other emergency supplies.

“There’s a lot of different backgrounds for kids as far as their exposure to motor vehicles in general,” Carlson said. “Being able to show these kids the basics is important. If they do get stranded, we live in a rural community, so it’s not hard to get in an area where your cell phone’s not going to have perception. They can use this kit to at least get themselves by until they’re able to contact someone to come help them out.”

906 DRIVE owner Lisa Valentine said she has wanted to expand partnerships with community and statewide organizations for several years.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 906 DRIVE secured a grant through the Office of Highway Safety Planning for a skid pad — a wet or slick driving surface used to teach vehicle control. However, the project never moved forward after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

When MSP contacted Valentine in June about providing free safety kits to her students, she welcomed the opportunity.

“I want the troopers and the kids to have a positive interaction,” Valentine said.

During Tuesday’s presentation, Carlson unpacked the Call Sam Car Safety Kit and explained the purpose of each item. He also shared driving tips for new motorists, including advice on handling Michigan’s winter road conditions and what to do in case of an accident.

“This is your first taste of freedom where you can control your own schedule, where you go, what you do,” Carlson said. “Use your brains. Don’t leave those at the door — we tell kids this all the time. Be safe.”

Carlson also teaches lessons in the MSP Teen Defensive Driving program at the Gladstone High School, which was developed through a project administered through the Michigan OHSP with funding provided from the U.S. Department of Transportation — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The free, four-hour, hands-on program includes instruction in defensive driving, serpentine maneuvering, evasive maneuvers and controlled braking, giving students practical experience handling hazardous driving situations.

Students in the 906 DRIVE Segment Two class have already completed at least 30 hours of supervised driving and have held a Level One Learner’s License for at least three months. Under Michigan’s Graduated Driver Licensing system, Level One drivers must drive with supervision, observe a curfew and are limited in the number of passengers they may carry.

Valentine’s students will soon earn additional driving privileges as they progress through the course, gaining more independence and responsibility behind the wheel.

As students reach these milestones, it’s important to remember that summer is the most dangerous time of year for young drivers.

According to the State of Michigan, the crash rate for teen drivers is four times that of adult drivers. In addition, more teen driving fatalities occur in the summer than any other time of the year.

While the kits can’t prevent every roadside emergency, organizers said giving young drivers the tools and knowledge to respond safely can make a difference when the unexpected happens.

For more information about the Call Sam Car Safety Kit, visit callsam.com/car-safety-kit/#GetYourGear. Parents and teens can learn more about 906 DRIVE at 906drive.com.

Teachers, school administrators, driving instructors and qualifying organizations interested in providing kits to young drivers can contact Sam Bernstein Law about bulk kit distribution or reach out to the MSP Gladstone Post’s Grant and Community Services Division.

Additional information about the MSP Teen Defensive Driving program is available at michigan.gov/mspnewsroom/community/2026/08/16/teen-defensive-driving—gladstone-high-school.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.