DEARBORN, MI — The Dearborn Police Department has partnered with Dearborn Public Schools, AAA, and the Oakland Community College Police Academy to launch a cutting-edge traffic safety initiative aimed at educating young drivers. Through this collaboration, a state-of-the-art driving simulator is being brought directly to Dearborn’s three main high schools, providing students with a powerful, hands-on learning experience about the dangers of reckless and distracted driving.
The initiative was officially launched during a kick off event outside of Fordson High School on April 21, 2025. Speakers at the event included Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin, Dearborn Schools Director of Communications David Mustonen, and Oakland Police Academy Dean David Ceci.
The simulator, provided by the Oakland Police Academy, offers students the opportunity to experience real-world driving scenarios in a safe, controlled environment. From texting while driving to speeding and impaired reaction times, students will face situations that demonstrate how risky behavior can lead to serious consequences on the road.
“Educating our young drivers is one of the most effective ways to improve long-term traffic safety in our community,” said Chief Issa Shahin of the Dearborn Police
Department. “This simulator gives students an eye-opening experience that we hope will stick with them every time they get behind the wheel. Our goal is not just enforcement, but education and prevention — this is a great step in that direction.”
The program will be in place from April 21 to May 9, 2025, rotating through Fordson, Edsel Ford and Dearborn high schools. The goal is to get 1,000 young drivers or soon-to-be drivers through the simulator. This program is part of a broader effort by the Dearborn Police Department to reduce traffic-related incidents and instill responsible driving habits in young people before they hit the road on their own.
Standing in front of Fordson High, Mayor Hammoud noted that 70,000 cars a day pass through the nearby Ford Road and Schaefer Road intersection, where a Fordson student was seriously injured by a reckless driver in December. The city has ramped up its efforts to ticket reckless drivers, and most of those tickets are going to young drivers, the Mayor said.
The simulator includes two driving modules inside of a semi trailer. Driving conditions can be set for a variety of conditions such as day, night, weather and more. Drivers are surrounded by screens to simulate the front and front side windows, and even the car’s mirrors are programmed in the scenario. Dean Cici said the simulator normally is used to teach future police officers and firefighters how to safely operate equipment.
By using innovative tools like this simulator, the partnership aims to create lasting awareness and empower students to make smarter decisions — ultimately contributing to safer streets across Dearborn and beyond.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to AAA and the Oakland Police Academy for their generous support in making this endeavor possible. Their commitment to community safety and youth education is instrumental in helping shape the next generation of safe drivers,” Chief Shahin said.