Sabrina Eldridge was nervous the first time she got behind the wheel of a car, turned the key and gently pushed down the pedal.

It was a lot different than being in the passenger seat.

“I’d never done it before, so I didn’t really know what to expect — it was scary,” said the 14-year-old Niles resident.

One week into participating in a local driver’s education class and Eldridge has an entirely different attitude about driving.

She said she feels calm and comfortable as she pulls out of a parking lot and onto the open road.

“I’ve learned how to settle down,” she said. “As soon as I start driving I am looking all over to see if there is anything in my point of view or anything else I should be aware of.”

Eldridge is one of five “Littles” who received a scholarship to All Star Driver Education’s driving school through a partnership between the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Berrien and Cass, the T. Wall Foundation and the office of Secretary of State Ruth Johnson.

The pilot program’s aim is to help at-risk teens gain practical driving experience at no cost. Qualifying “Littles” in the greater Niles area will continue to receive driver’s education funding from here on out through the foundation.

“Together we will champion the cause of the importance of making driver’s training accessible to all children in the state,” said Chris Frank, executive director of BBBS of Berrien and Cass, at a press conference Monday in Niles.

Linda Tarver, director of community affairs for the Secretary of State, said teen drivers represent an alarmingly high level of auto fatalities nationwide. In fact, vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for young people in America, claiming about 3,000 lives annually, or about eight per day. In 2012, 10 percent of drivers in Michigan involved in fatal crashes were under the age of 21.

“Working together we can make sure these young people have the support and the experience they need to be better drivers,” said Tarver. “That will save lives in Michigan and make sure our roads are safer.”

Sixteen-year-old Justin Smith, of Niles, is another teen who is receiving free driver’s education.

“I think this is the best thing in the world because he would never have had the opportunity and he really enjoys it,” said Smith’s mother, Sheryl. “He will learn what he needs to learn to be a safe driver.”

According to a recent study, Michigan ranks 14th in the nation for safest teen drivers.

Tarver said she hopes this program will help the state reach No. 1 in the nation, despite the fact that the state stopped funding driver’s education through schools in 2004.

“Today it is unfortunate that a lot of minority children and inner city school children and those who are disadvantaged financially will not have the opportunity for drivers education,” she said. “This partnership will allow that to happen. We need to make sure it is a life skill.”

In January, Johnson and the BBBS Capital Region officials in Lansing announced that volunteers, or “Bigs” from that chapter would be encouraged to serve as the driving coach and role model for the Little Brother or Sister.

The BBBS of Berrien and Cass have now joined that program.

The T. Wall Foundation is dedicated to helping all children and families in need, including by funding driver’s education through All Star Driver Education.

Based in Ann Arbor, All Star Driver Education offers driving school through local high schools, including Niles and Brandywine.