City of Duluth, Georgia

Duluth Police receive Georgia Highway Safety Grant

Operation Drive Smart continues statewide efforts to reduce teen accidents

DULUTH, Ga. — Duluth Police will continue to partner with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to combat teen driving deaths by taking their Operation Drive Smart program to fifteen Georgia High Schools across the state during the 2012 school year. The Police Department received a $38,900 highway safety grant, which provides funding for travel and the Drive Smart program at 15 schools across the state.

During the past several years the department has received more requests for the Drive Smart program than funding and time allows during the school year. “Last year, we had to turn down three schools. It’s not for a lack of trying on our part; we completed 15 programs throughout the state traveling from Chatham County on the southern coast to Murray County on the Tennessee state line,” said Lt. Bill Stevens. Since the program’s inception, over 150,000 Georgia teenagers have participated in our program. Duluth COPS officers and Georgia State Patrol troopers work seamlessly together supporting other jurisdictions in curbing teen traffic crashes. Lt. Stevens said, “The program is a win-win for the students, schools and communities that participate because our efforts are to education and mentor young drivers. The students are exposed to countless years of safety experience from public safety professionals and over two and half million dollars worth of rescue and emergency equipment at each Drive Smart program.” The event is all about improving skills, saving lives, and is provided at no cost to the local jurisdiction or school.”

For more information about Operation Drive Smart, contact Sgt. Steve Daniels – Duluth Police Department.
Point of contact: Sgt Steve Daniels e-mail address: sdaniels@duluthpd.com

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 at 2:10 pm.