Haitians in Springfield take up driving program that goes beyond road rules 

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — On a freezing afternoon in February, a Haitian church on Yellow Springs Street stands warm and inviting, its stained-glass windows casting soft, colorful light across the room. People come and go, bundled in coats, while others sit quietly on pews, awaiting the afternoon’s event. The space is decorated with vibrant banners and flickering candles, setting a hopeful tone.

Inside, instructors with the Champion City Drivers Education, a driving simulation program, geared toward helping local Haitians build both confidence and crucial life skills, wait for participants. Marise Christian, a native of Haiti’s Northwest region who moved to Springfield in 2023, showed up moments later for a lesson.

“Without a vehicle, it’s difficult to do anything here,” said Christian, who has just begun taking regular driving lessons. 

“This program has given me a chance to get my license and eventually purchase a vehicle, which will change my life,” she said.

The driving simulation program — a collaboration with Governor Mike DeWine’s traffic safety initiative funded by the Maria Tiberi Foundation — 

operates at six community facilities around Ohio. The foundation supporting it was established by the family of Aiden Clark, who was killed when his school bus collided with a car driven by a Haitian man, Hermanio Joseph, in 2023.

Clark’s death highlighted concerns about unsafe driving in Springfield, where there were 17 traffic fatalities in 2024 and 18 in 2023 and accusations of immigrant communities being blamed for traffic accidents. With the $54,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Traffic Safety Office, the Springfield Police Division aims to reduce fatal crashes and serious injuries and improve road safety for all residents.

Since its launch in December 2024, the Springfield simulation program, overseen by Lukens Merzius, Community Outreach and Public Relations Coordinator of the Haitian Community Alliance, has trained over 30 people. To Merzius, the program is not only about driving but about empowering the Haitian community by fostering independence and better access to opportunities in Springfield.

“The program was created with the help of a family who experienced a tragic loss and wanted to make a difference by helping others,” Merzius said. “Driving has always been a major challenge for the Haitian community, and now, we’re addressing that challenge head-on.”

These feelings of uncertainty have caused anxiety, but the driving program offers a safe space for learning, skill-building, and community support. 

Despite the ongoing immigration challenges, Merzius emphasized that the Haitian community remains resilient. 

“The driving program is one of the many ways we are empowering ourselves and making sure our voices are heard,” Merzius said. Merzius highlighted how the driving program empowers the Haitian community by providing independence, mobility, and access to better job opportunities, fostering greater participation in Springfield.

A vital resource in uncertain times

Each Saturday and Sunday afternoon, any of the 10 instructors available provide lessons to all residents, no matter their nationality. Participants sit in a chair in front of a screen where they can see a virtual road, traffic signs, and other elements of the driving environment. They control the vehicle using a steering wheel, gas pedal, and brake, with added sensory feedback. For instance, the simulator vibrates to simulate driving on a bumpy road, and it makes noise when a crash occurs.

While it may seem like a video game at first glance, participants say it feels far from a simple toy.

Christian, for example, said she relied on kamyonet, colorful commuter taxis made of pick-up trucks, to get by in Haiti. Once in Springfield, she faced a new set of struggles to adapt but is glad that the simulation is allowing her to remove one obstacle to settling here.

“Behind the wheel, I finally feel a sense of control, like I’m driving my own path instead of waiting for one to open up,” said Christian. “It’s empowering to be in charge of my journey, especially after all the challenges I’ve faced.”

Another participant, Joseph Petitvius, said he too finds solace in the program. 

“I’m learning something I never had the chance to learn in Haiti,” said Petitvius, a former science professor from Port-au-Prince. “I am very grateful for the opportunity, as driving is essential here.”

To learn more about the program or how to get involved, contact Jacob Payen at (772) 940-4150 or email info@haitiancommunityalliance.org.

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