JOSHUA’S LAW & SAFE DRIVING

Who is Joshua?  Joshua Robert was born on August 22, He loved football, he loved baseball, he loved his family. He had a gift for music and had been accepted to a prestigious music school in Boston where he would attend after graduating from his final year at Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Georgia  On July 1, 2003, Joshua was driving a two- lane highway in the rain when his truck hit a puddle of water, hydroplaned, and crashed into a tree. Severely injured, he fought to stay alive for six days, but passed away on July 9th.

As a result…  “When Joshua lost control of his vehicle on a wet road, he did not know what to do and his parents dealt with grief and guilt. That emptiness turned into a personal crusade to make sure every teen has the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to drive safely.”

What is Joshua’s Law?  All 16 year-olds applying for a Class D driver's license must:  complete an approved driver education course  complete a total of 40 hours of supervised driving  6 hours of which must be at night, with a parent or guardian's sworn verification that these driving requirements have been met  any Georgia resident who has not completed an approved driver education course must be at least 17 years old to be eligible for a Class D driver's license  He or she must have completed a total of at least 40 hours of supervised driving, including at least 6 hours at night. The same verification in writing by a parent or guardian is required

What courses can I take to satisfy Joshua’s Law? Method 1  30 hours of classroom instruction at an approved DDS school.  PLUS  6 hours behind the wheel training at an approved DDS school.  PLUS  40 hours supervised driving with a parent or guardian. Method 2  30 hours of classroom instruction at an approved DDS school.  PLUS  Completion of the Parent/Teen Driving Guide Method 4  DDS approved online course  PLUS  Completion of the Parent/Teen Driving Guide Method 3  DDS approved online course  PLUS  6 hours behind the wheel training at an approved DDS school.  PLUS  40 hours supervised driving with a parent or guardian.

Driving Tips for Teens : Always wear your seat belt--and make sure all passengers buckle up, too.  Adjust your car’s mirrors and seats as needed.  Never have more people in your car then your car can fit.  Obey the speed limits, if you go too fast you are more likely to wreck. Speed limits are set for a reason.  Before turning at an intersection, don't drive like you own the road; drive defensively.  Don't do any drugs before or while you are driving. Doing drugs is against the law anyway, but when your on the road you can affect innocent people on the roads.

Statistics on teen driving:  Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds.  16-year olds are 3 more times likely to die in a car accident than any drivers.  About 2 out of every 3 teenagers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2008 were males.  31% of drivers ages who were killed in car crashes had been drinking some amount of alcohol; 25% were alcohol-impaired, meaning they had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 grams per deciliter or higher.  55%, or 2,014, of the 3,678 occupants of passenger vehicles ages who were killed in crashes were not buckled up.  37% of male drivers ages who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time.  2010 Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.