The Joshua’s Law instills safety within upcoming drivers

Photo Credit: Ashley Yearwood

Jobie Peeples, junior, fastens her seatbelt before leaving the school parking lot.

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Written by Ashley Yearwood, News Editor

As Dre Quan Collquit, freshman, sits and listens to his drivers ed teacher, he begins to wonder why the Joshua’s Law was put into effect.

Joshua Brown died in 2003 when his pickup truck hydroplaned and hit a tree. Since that day his family has been working hard to increase the standards needed for any 16 year old to obtain their class D drivers license.

In July 2006, Gov. Sonny Perdue passed a new law that was put into effect on Jan. 1, 2007, named after Brown, known as Joshua’s law. This law increased the standards needed for any 16 year old to obtain their license, just like the Brown family wished. This law was one that should have been around long before January 2007.

This law states that any 16 year old applying to get their license in Georgia must first complete a drivers ed course. According to Joshuabrownfoundation.org, Brown did not take a drivers ed course and his father strongly believes that if he had taken a course, he would have been able to regain control of his pickup truck after it hydroplaned.

The law also says that in order for any 16 year old to apply for their Class D license, they must also have their parents or legal guardian to document that they have 40 hours of driving experience, including six hours of driving at night.

This law is very helpful to young teenagers drivers. Taking a drivers ed course informs young drivers on what to do in case something happens. It prepares them and informs them of everything they need to know while on the road.

When people encounter tragic stories like the Browns’, they think to themselves “this won’t ever happen to me.” That is the exact same thing that goes through everyone’s head, and it can happen to you; do notlet your thoughts fool you.

Drivers ed can and will save your life, as well as others’. The Joshua’s law was a long overdue contribution that has saved many lives and should always be appreciated by teens.