Free Teen Driving Seminar Set for April 19

Due to the high level of interest, the plans to offer a monthly P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error) course.

Registration is now open for the April 19 session. Community Relations Officer Heather Stafford and Crime Prevention Officer Walt Pollock are the instructors for the free, two-hour P.R.I.D.E. seminar funded by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.  The seminar emphasizes parental involvement and communication as a key factor in reducing teen crashes and fatalities.

“Gwinnett County is a suburban area, which offers unique driving situations and problems for first-time drivers,” Stafford said. The P.R.I.D.E. course is designed to help parents teach young, inexperienced drivers how to deal with those situations.

Georgia's Joshua's Law requires anyone who applies for a permanent driver's license to have a parent, legal guardian or responsible adult sign a verification form affirming the candidate has completed 40 hours (with six hours at night) of supervised driving experience in addition to completing an approved driver education course. The P.R.I.D.E. course helps parents and new drivers meet those requirements.

The April 19 course will be offered at the East Precinct located at 2273 Alcovy Road in Dacula.  A teen and at least one parent or guardian must register to attend.

To register for this free course contact Officer Stafford at 770-338-7430 ext 5696 or by email at heather.stafford@gwinnettcounty.com.

In conjunction with the Teen PRIDE program Officer Stafford and Officer Pollock are also teaching a Traffic Safety for Teens seminar.  The free 45-minute seminar for teens covers topics such as crash dynamics, seat belts, speeding, alcohol, distractions, road rules and road signs.  Officer Stafford launched this program at McConnell Middle school on March 28 and plans to offer the class each semester at the school.