A new driver education course is being offered this summer in Roswell, allowing teenagers in North Fulton to take driver’s education in conjunction with the city’s Recreation department. The SafeTeen Georgia driver education program is being taught at Hembree Park in June. It is a new addition to the city’s summer program.
Parents and teenagers can sign up for the course online at www.SafeAmerica.org. Scholarships are available, provided by American Family Insurance through the Safe America Foundation. Verizon Wireless and Security Bank of North Fulton are major sponsors of the program in Roswell.
This first-ever program was created by five members of the 2009 class of Leadership North Fulton. “Many of today’s adult drivers learned through a driver education program offered when they were a teenager. Our hope is to provide that same opportunity for today’s teenagers in North Fulton, through a community-based program that promotes safety and instills effective driving habits,” said Lenny Forti, principal of Sweet Apple Elementary School in Roswell and a member of Leadership North Fulton.
The SafeTeen Georgia driver education program is one of six community-service projects being conducted by Leadership North Fulton in 2009. Jennifer Hall, Tina Sanderson, Greg Heenan, Patrick Hill and Lenny Forti are all part of the Leadership North Fulton team that is creating the Driver Education program in Roswell. Since last fall, the team has been coordinating with the Safe America Foundation.
“The Leadership North Fulton Class of 2009 should be applauded for their outstanding efforts in bringing the SafeTeen Georgia driver education program to the City of Roswell, making driver education available to all Roswell residents,” said Safe America Foundation President and CEO Len Pagano. The SafeTeen Georgia training program was created by Safe America Foundation in response to Joshua’s Law, which now requires 16 year olds to complete a formal driver education course prior to obtaining a license. The course uses first-responders as driving instructors. Safe America Foundation is a non-profit foundation formed in 1994 and is dedicated to saving teen lives through driver education and training.
“The City of Roswell is proud to host the first SafeTeen Georgia driving course for North Fulton,” said Mayor Jere Wood. “It's vitally important that teenagers learn the rules of the road. They'll listen to Roswell's Police and Firemen, who can speak from personal experience about the importance of safe driving.”
Classes Held at Hembree Park
Classes will be taught in early June at the Hembree Park Recreation Center. The class is licensed by the State of Georgia Department of Driver Services and will be taught by area firefighters and other emergency first-responders. Each student will attend 30 hours of classroom training, which includes the state-required Alcohol and Drug Awareness training. Students also will complete at least six hours of private, individual behind-the-wheel training with a licensed driver training instructor.
Teens must be 15 years of age by the date of the first class and have a learner’s permit before they can take the behind-the-wheel training. The behind-the-wheel training is performed in individually scheduled two-hour increments which must occur within the six months following the classroom training.
Graduates of the program are eligible for a 10 percent reduction in insurance premiums to drivers under 25 years of age, if otherwise qualified; and parents are eligible for a $150 Georgia income tax credit.
Parents and students wanting more information or to register for the driver education class can call the Safe America Foundation at (770) 973-7233, or go online at www.safeamerica.org.
Labels: hembree park, leadership of north fulton, Roswell, safeteen georgia driving course
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Brian Vanderhoff @ 12:43 PM
