GCPD Offering Additional Driving Class

Due to the high level of interest, Ofc. Heather Stafford, community relations officer at the has added an additional session for the department's P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error) course.

The first session, scheduled for March 14, is already full Stafford said. Registration is now open for the additional session scheduled for April 19.

The free, two-hour P.R.I.D.E. seminar funded by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety 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.