Page 6 - Final GA Parent Teen Driving Guide Updated August 2021

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

regarding the accuracy, reliability, suitabil- PARENTING THE DRIVING
ity, completeness or timeliness of any items
contained within the GUIDE. EXPERIENCE
• Neither DDS nor its contributors shall be held
liable for any improper or incorrect use of the
information described and/or contained in Your teen has reached an im-
the GUIDE, and DDS assumes no responsibil- portant milestone; an INSTRUC-
ity for anyone’s use of the GUIDE or informa- TIONAL PERMIT (also known as
tion contained therein. the Learner’s Permit). It is our hope
that acquiring mature driving skills
• In no event will DDS or its contributors be and judgment will be a reward-
liable for any damages whatsoever arising ing experience for you and your
out of the use or inability to use the GUIDE teenager. With your involvement,
or any items or information contained therein it can also be a safe experience.
even if advised of the possibility of such dam- This 40-hour parent/teen driving
ages. In no event shall DDS or its contributors guide provides suggestions for
be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, in-car lessons to help you assist
special, exemplary, or consequential damages your teen in making this step to
(including, but not limited to, procurement of adulthood more successful for
substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, both of you.
or profits; or business interruption) however How do you teach a 16-year- The ability to move a car skillfully is not
caused and on any theory of liability, whether old not to be a 16-year-old behind the wheel the same thing as the ability to drive safely.
in contract, strict liability, or tort (including of an automobile? Unfortunately, there is Steering the vehicle is a relatively simple
negligence or otherwise), arising in any way no magic formula to prepare your teenager skill that most people can master in a short
out of the possession or use of the GUIDE even for the responsibilities of driving. Driver period of time. Driving is a complex task
if advised of the possibility of such damage. education at its best is a team effort involv- requiring mastery of various performance
• DDS does not endorse individual vendors, ing schools, communities, students, and skills. It requires processing and accurately
products or services. Reference herein or in the families. evaluating risk in the driving
GUIDE to any specific commercial products, Cars do not crash; people crash them. In environment, developing appropriate
processes, or services by trade name, trade- 2016, there were 188 roadway fatalities in responses to mini-mize risk, and gaining
mark, manufacturer, or otherwise, or the use Georgia among persons under age 21. Mo- experience to predict what action others
of any trade, firm, or corporation name, does tor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of may take.
not constitute or imply DDS’s endorsement, death of teens in the United States (based This technical assistance guide
recommendation, approval or favoring by on the latest mortality data currently avail- provides you with a systematic approach
DDS, and such reference shall not be used for able from the National Center for Health to guide your teen towards remaining
advertising or product endorsement purposes. Statistics). According to the Insurance crash-free in both low- and high-risk driving
Institute for Highway Safety, 2,820 driv- environments. The suggested lessons in this
• In the State of Georgia, laws exist to ensure ers ages 13-19 were killed in motor vehicle guide follow a sequential learning pattern
that government is open and that the public crashes nationally in 2016. that progresses from the parking lot to
has a right to access appropriate records and The Teenage & Adult Driver Responsibil- neighborhoods, to light traffic, to rural
information possessed by state government. ity Act (TADRA) was established in Georgia highways, to expressways and then to city
At the same time, there are exceptions to the by a collaborative effort of highway safety driving. Each lesson provides you with an
public’s right to access public records. These advocates, legislators, law enforcement of- estimated amount of time the teen will need to
exceptions serve various needs, including ficials, educators, businesses and media in achieve mastery; however, because teens
maintaining the privacy of individuals. Both the wake of a high number of fatal vehicle have different abilities and learning styles
state and federal laws provide exceptions. crashes involving young, inexperienced driv- you need to spend as much time as
The GUIDE is expressly subject to the open ers. TADRA involves an intense, three-step necessary to allow your teen to master the
records and open meetings laws of the State education process that allows the young skills before moving on to the next lesson.
of Georgia. driver to gain more experience behind the Research shows that in order for young driv-
• Anyone doing anything with the GUIDE wheel. Additionally, it also requires that prior ers to remain crash-free, parents must model
agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harm- to the issuance of a Class D license you safe driving behaviors and invest in meaning-
less DDS and its contributors and their respec- must have completed a cumulative total of ful guided practice over a long period of time
tive directors, officers, employees, and agents at least forty (40) hours of other supervised to turn these skills into good driving habits!
from and against all claims and expenses, in- driving experience, including at least six (6) If neither parent has a valid driver’s li-
cluding attorneys’ fees, arising out of the pos- hours at night. cense, a friend or relative can conduct the
session, copying or other use of the GUIDE by Those under age 18 applying for a guided practice sessions. Because parents

such user or for such user’s account. Class D driver’s license must complete an and guardians play such a significant role
approved driver education course and in the development of safe driving habits,
All requests or questions with respect to the complete a total of 40 hours of supervised parents should remain involved in the
GUIDE should be sent to: Georgia Department driving, 6 hours of which must be at night, learn-ing process as observers in the car
of Driver Services, Governmental Affairs and with a parent or guardian’s sworn during the guided practice sessions.
Communication Division, 2206 Eastview Park- verification that these requirements have Knowing your teen is a skilled, safety-

way, Conyers, Georgia 30013. been met. This manual is designed to help conscious driver will give you peace of mind
you achieve the required driving in the years to come.
experience to qualify for a Class D driver’s In addition to sharpening your driving
license. skills, it is our hope the guided practice
sessions presented in this guide will pro-
vide your teen with a solid foundation to
develop safe, free driving habits that will
last a lifetime.

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