The Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPI) at the University of Georgia is bringing P.R.I.D.E.—Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error—to help Walton County parents prepare their 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds to drive. This is a free course.
GTIPI is working with The City of Monroe Police Department to offer the free, 2-hour P.R.I.D.E. seminar, a standardized UGA course offered statewide. GTIPI is funded by a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
The Georgia Teens Ride with P.R.I.D.E. classes will complement the Walton County driver education program and will:
– help parents and guardians become more aware of their own driving behaviors,
– teach parents and guardians how to help their teens become safe drivers,
– help parents, guardians and teens learn what they need to do during the supervised practice driving time
– alter attitudes and driving behaviors of novice teen drivers.
The course will be offered from 9 – 11 a.m. on Nov. 5 and from 6 – 8 p.m. on Nov. 16 from 6 – 8 pm at Monroe Area High School. A teen and at least one parent or guardian must register to attend. More information can be found online at http://www.fcs.uga.edu/extension/gtipi-p.r.i.d.e.-parent-teen-classes or by emailing Sgt Brent Davis at BDavis@MonroeGA.gov.
Changes in the TADRA Law for teen drivers put parents squarely in the passenger’s seat. It requires that anyone who applies for a permanent driver’s license must have a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult sign a verification form affirming that the candidate has completed 40 hours (with 6 hours at night) of supervised driving experience, if the candidate has successfully completed an approved driver education course.
Most parents don’t feel prepared, or may not know what they need to do, to supervise a new teen driver behind the wheel. But parental involvement is key to reducing teen crashes and fatalities.
Teens want the practice time so they can get their license, but need to know how to communicate with their nervous parents. The P.R.I.D.E. course is offered free to fill this void.
“P.R.I.D.E. is an excellent orientation to the driver education process and teen driving laws. It’s designed to help young people become better decision makers, especially as new drivers,” said Frankie Jones, GTIPI’s Director. “It will help parents and their new teen drivers learn what they need to do during those 40 hours of driving time. Our ultimate goal is to reduce risk-taking behavior and youth related car crashes.”