Milton Public Safety Dept to Offer P.R.I.D.E. Parent / Teen Driving Course On Sat / Sept 22

Course helps parents and teens reduce risk of teen death
in car accidents

The City of Milton Public Safety Department will hold a FREE two-hour Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E driving course for parents and teenagers on Saturday, September 22 from 10 a.m. to noon at Fire Station #43, located at 750 Hickory Flat Road in Milton, Ga.

"Safe driving requires more than just knowing how to operate a vehicle," said Milton Public Safety Captain Damon Jones. "If we can avoid even one fatal teen crash by providing this valuable training, we will have made a difference in our city and in the lives of Milton families." Jones adds, "We owe it to our young citizens to help them know how to be safe when they get behind the wheel."

More than 250 Georgia families lose a teen driver in a car accident each year. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among young drivers ages 15-20, with teen traffic fatalities accounting for 44 percent of teen deaths in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council.

P.R.I.D.E., which stands for "Parents Reducing Incidents of Driver Error," addresses driver attitude, knowledge and behavior, rather than technical hands-on driver training. The national award-winning course is designed to help parents and their new or upcoming drivers between 14- and 16-years-old learn what they need to do during the 40 hours of supervised practice driving time required by Georgia's Joshua's Law.

Joshua's Law, which went into effect on January 1, 2007, requires that any teen under the age of 17 must have a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult sign a verification form affirming that the teen has completed either 40 hours of supervised driving experience or 20 hours if the teen has completed an approved driver education course. Teens who do not meet these requirements must wait until they reach age 17 to be eligible for a Class D driver's license.

The P.R.I.D.E. course is offered in cooperation with the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institution (GTIPI), a University of Georgia program funded by a grant from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. Learn more about P.R.I.D.E. courses at www.ridesafegeorgia.org.

Incorporated on December 1, 2006, the City of Milton is a distinctive community that embraces small-town life and heritage while preserving and enhancing the city's rural character. The City of Milton is committed to maintaining the unique quality of life for its constituents while efficiently delivering essential services to residents and businesses in an interactive community environment. For more information, visit www.cityofmiltonga.us, or call 678-242-2500.