It's better to be a responsible driver than just another statistic...get the facts in Driving Ambition [May 1999]

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ZRgO It's better to be a respon~ibledriver than just another statistic...

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Driving Ambition is a 30-minute film produced by ImageMaster Productions. Inc. for the Governor's Children and Youth Coordinating Council that addresses teen driver responsibility in

In 1997, there were 301,765 motor vehicle crashes resulting in 139,379 injuries and 1,584 fatalities.

+ Georgia. Driving Ambition is the result of House Bill 681, the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act which was signed into
law on April 14. 1997. This law seeks to confront the leading killer of
our young people -- traffic crashes.
I I + The Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act establishes graduated licenses for Georgians between the ages of 15 and
18, with three separate classifications: The lnstructional Permit, The

In 1997, 6.016 persons were seriously injured in motor vehicle crashes. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of traumatic head injuries, injuries that often result in death or decades of slow and incomplete recovery.
In the past 30 years. more than 46.000 people have lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes.

lntermediate (Class D) License and the Full Class C License (see

detailed explanation of Act below).

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The law sends drivers under age 21 a very clear message
- if you get caught driving 24-miles per hour or more over the speed

Impaired driving killed 609 persons in 1997. On average, impaired drivers were involved in 29 motor vehicle crashes each day in 1997.

+ limit you will lose your license. This strict message also targets teens
who drive under the influence, race on the highway, flee from a police officer or leave the scene of an accident, protecting not only the teen

In 1997, 188 pedestrians died in motor vehicle crashes - a
16-percent increase over 1996.

+ driver, but also the rest of the driving, passenger and pedestrian public. "This is one of the most powerful and effective laws passed by the Georgia General Assembly in years," said Governor Roy E.

In 1997, 1,379 people died on state, county and city roads compared with 205 fatalities on interstate highways.

+ Barnes. 'When it first went into effect in July 1997. parents and kids
both were frustrated because it called everyone to accountability and

responsibility.

"Today, over a year and a half later, we have seen tremen-

dous results with a 35-percent reduction in hig-hwa.y fatalities.

Regretfully, over 40,000 of our young people learned the hard way and have lost their driving privileges. It will not take much longer for

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them to understand that Georgia means business, and driving in this

state is a privilege afforded only to those who choose to be respon-

Young inexperienced drivers ages 16-24 have a higher rate of crashes, injuries and fatalities than drivers over age 24. On average, drivers age 16-17 were involved in 88 more vehicle crashes each day in 1997.
In 1997, the chance of a crash being fatal was almost 10 times higher for crashes related to alcohol and drugs than crashes not related to driver impairment.

sible."
Driving Ambition explains The Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act and introduces viewers to Georgia families who know first hand the tragic effects of reckless driving, speeding and DUI. The cost to society is staggering, and the emotional cost is impossible to measure. D M n g Ambition urges young drivers to
I make a commitment to be responsible. D M n g Ambition won two Television Emrny Awards in 1998.

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In 1997, motor vehicle crashes resulted in a total estimated cost

of $5.3 billion in medical care, insurance administration, cost of

police, fire and emergency medical personnel salaries, and other

msts. Altogether, motor vehicle mshes cost Georgiansan average

of $14.5 million each day in 1997.

(AN statistical inlomation collected from the Georgia Highway Safety 1999 Fad Book produced by the Governor's Offica of Highway Safety.)

Teenage and Adult Dover Responsibility Act

Step One:
The 'nsiructional is granted to 15 year olds upon passage of a written examination. While driving, an Instructional Permit holder must be accompanied by a person who is at least 21 and has a valid ~ l a $ Cs drivers license.
Step Two:
The Intermediate (Class D) License is granted to drivers between 16 and 18 years of age who have held an Instructional Permit for 12 months and passed the drivers test. The Intermediate License has the following restrictions: 9 No driving between the hours of 1 a.m. and

5 a.m., unless the driver is going to and from employment; going to and from a school event; going to and from an activity sponsored by a
religious organization, or experiendng a medical, fire or law enforcement emergency.

Moving to the Next Level:
A driver progressing through the Graduated Licensing classifications can only move to the next level if he or she has gone 12 consecutive months without a conviction

, Npaosdsreivninggerws iuthndmerortheethaagnethorfe2e1.non-fami,yfo9Jr

one of the following: DUI
Eluding a police officer

Step Three:

9 Drag racing J Reckless driving

drivers l8 years Of age Or who hold me Class license, the Full Class

J Hit and run, or any moving violation for which there is assessed four or more points on the drivers license.

License is granted if there have been no major

traffic convictions for the previous twelve See back for further information on violations.

months.

(Courlesy of the Governor's Om- d Highway Safety)

School attendance and behavior will affect your drivers license. No individual under the age of 18 can obtain a drivers license or instructional permit unless he or she is attending a public school, a private school or is enrolled in home schooling authorized by law; or has graduated from high school, received a GED, or received a certificate of high school completion; or has completed his or her secondary education and is enrolled in a post-secondary school.
If a student under 18 drops out of school without graduating and has remained out of school for 10 consecutive days, or has more than 10 consecutive school days of unexcused absences in

Losing Your License
Conviction of a driver under the age of 21 for any of the following offenses will mean revocation of the drivers license for six months

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for the first offense and 12 months for the second offense:

J DUI

.. . .:

J Eluding or attempting to elude a police officer

J Racing

J Reckless driving

J Hit and run

J Leaving the scene of an accident

J Purchasing of an alcoholic beverage by a minor

J Exceeding the speed limit by 24 mph

any semester or combination of two consecutive quarters, notice will be given by the school to the Georgia Department of Public Safety. The drivers license of the student will then be suspended until he or she returns to school. The license will not be suspended if the student has obtained and delivered to the school written permission from the student's parent or guardian authorizing the student to drop out of school.
The drivers license of the student will be suspended for 90 days if the student is suspended from school for any one of the following offenses:
J Threatening, striking, or causing bodily harm to a teacher or other school personnel.
J Possession or sale of drugs or alcohol on school grounds.
J Possession or use of a weapon on school grounds. A student can,obtain a temporary driving permit from the Georgia Department of Public Safety to drive to and from work with a suspended license if he or she has demonstrated the need for the per-

More than 40.838 Georgia drivers under age 21 had their licenses revoked from July 1, 1997 thru May 2, 1999:
School Violations Illegal Possession of Alcohol Speeding Violations DUI Passing a School Bus Reckless Driving Racing Eluding an Officer Passing on Hill or Curve Hit and Run Other Violations
...............................(.C.o.ur.te.s.y.o.f .G.o.v.e.rn.o.r'.s.O.fl.ic.e.o.f .H.ig.h.w.a.y.S.a.fe.ly.) PRODUCED BY: ImageMaster Productions, Inc. Dan Johnson, President

mit. The permit would be granted only if the drivers license has been

(Producer)

suspended for a school-related infraction or for dropping out of school

No temporary permit will be granted for a DUI offense.

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Judy Neal, CYCC Executive Director (Executive Producer)

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I (Courtesy of the Governor's OAlce of Highway Safely)

PRODUCED FOR:

Office of the Governor

Driving Under the Influence is a Crime

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A Alcohol is a powerful depressantfound in beer,
wine and liquor. Alcohol acts like an anesthetic, dulling areas of the brain that enable people to make sensible decisions. Drinking may cause drowsiness. When

Children and Youth Coordinating Council .10 Park Place South. Suite 410 Atlanta, Georgia 30303
DRIVING AMBITION SPONSORS: PROMINA Health System UPS FOUNDATION
~ovemor'sOffice of Highway Safety Georgia Department of Human Resources

alertness decreases, the. chances of

having a crash increases.

Drinking slows reflexes and hinders coordination. Drivers who

can't react quickly are a hazard to themselves and others.

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Alcohol can cause double or multiple vision and blurting. It also

reduces side vision, making it difficult to see vehides approaching

DRIVING AMBITION IN-KIND SPONSORS: Atlanta Motor Speedway Blockbuster Video Stores Georgia Public Television MetLife
American Academy of Pediatrics

from the lefl or right.

Alcohol can be especially dangerous when people mistakenly

EDUCATIONAL VIDEO SERIES:

think that alcohol improves their driving ability.

Multlgle Choice (Juvenile Crime Prevention)

Alcohol can be dangerous when drivers lack driving experience. The result may be unpredictable driving behavior, possibly leading to tragedy.

Ultimate Choice (Teen Pregnancy Prevention) Driving Ambition (Teen Driving LawsIUnderage Drinking)
The Parenting Principle (Parenting)

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Alcohol can be dangerous when drivers foolishly believe that

For more information on the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act.

coffee, a cold shower, exercise or fresh air can sober them up. contact the Governor's Office of Highway Safety at 1-888-420-0767or the

Time is the only way to sober up.

Georgia Department of Public Safety at (404) 657-9300.

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Alcohol can be dangerous when drivers don't realize that beer or

wine is just as potent as liquor. Twelve ounces of beer, 5 oz. of To order DMng Ambitionor any other CYCC educational products. please

wine and a 1 112oz. of 80-proof liquor all containthe same amounts contact CYCC Public Relations Officer Judy Reynoldsat (404) 656-9345 or e-

of alcohol. (Courtesy of Governor's Clficaof ~ighwaySafely)

mail ~ d v r b m i n d ~ n a . c o mVis. it our web site at www.cvcc.state.aa, us.