Joshua's Law: What is it?
Background
Joshua's law is a result of a tragic accident that resulted in the death of a young man by the name of Joshua Brown. His parents, Alan and LuGina Brown, realized that the accident could have possibily been avoided if the boy had had proper training and known what to do in such a situation. The Browns approached their State Senator, Preston Smith, regarding what could be done to help prevent this from happening to any other young drivers. Preston Smith introduced Senate Bill 226 which created Joshua's Law as we know it today in Georgia.
What Joshua's Law means to you
If your child is close to driving age you may be wondering what Joshuas law has to do with you and what it means for your kid. All parents should understand the true importance of driver education and proper training for their children. Today's roads are more dangerous than ever before... MUCH more dangerous. You need to give your child every tool possible to keep them alive.
The Senate realized the importance here in driver training but they also had to consider that some families may not be able to afford driver education.
As a result the law states:
- Teens may recieve their driver's license at age 16 if they have completed a certified driver's education course, if not they must wait until they turn 17 to get their license. They must ALSO 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 of the fulfillment.
New Driver FAQ
- Who conducts the 40 hours of training (including the 6 hours of night training)? The Parent or legal guardian is responsible for surpervising the child for the 40 hours of driving.
- Wait, my child is 17, what does he/she have to do? If your child is 17 Joshua's law does not apply but they MUST have the 40 hours of supervised (6 at night) training
- When is this effective? Joshua's Law starts on January 1st, 2007 - If your child does not have his or her license by then they must take a Certified Driver Education course!
- Do I get an insurance discount if I take this state approved driver's education course? Make sure you take a Certified State approved driver education course that issues a certificate of completion for providing 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours behind the wheel. (all of our recommended schools provide this course)
- What about the cost? Costs are determined by the schools but generally a 30/6 course will cost ~$450