The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education, launched Street Smart, a first-of-its-kind road safety education program for middle school students statewide.

Designed for grades 6 through 8, Street Smart provides free classroom materials including worksheets, quizzes, videos and interactive web games. The program focuses on pedestrian, bicyclist and passenger safety, aiming to build awareness before students begin formal driver education. While limited to sixth through eighth grade students for the 2025-2026 school year, plans are underway to expand the curriculum to all grade levels in the coming years.

ARDOT Communications Division Head Dave Parker oversaw the development of the curriculum. “We saw a need,” Parker said. “Crash data shows a high rate of incidents among Arkansans under 24. We wanted safety to become second nature before they ever get behind the wheel.”

Inspired by a similar initiative in Georgia, ARDOT and the Department of Education collaborated with consultants to ensure the curriculum met state standards and was easy for teachers to implement. Health educators, counselors and school resource officers are expected to lead the rollout.

The program also features five Arkansas teens who appear in the educational videos, offering relatable role models for students across the state.

Street Smart is more than a classroom tool—it’s a proactive investment in public safety. By teaching students how to navigate roads safely, Arkansas hopes to reduce accidents and protect lives in communities statewide.

Teachers can request materials and learn more at StreetSmartAR.org.