Chattanooga's Driver's Ed Starts Monday

For around 20 years now, there hasn't been a driver's education program in Hamilton County.  But that will be coming to an end on Monday with the introduction of a new program for teens in Chattanooga, learning how to drive.

The City of Chattanooga's Driver's Education Coordinator says, "this comes after many years of trying to find a successful, a successful and not money-losing way of trying to find a way to provide driving education for our kids."

But the city of Chattanooga is now getting in on the action.  Johnson says teaching teens is key, because many learn to drive without learning the basics.

"I've seen so many pages in black and white that I've entered in, and so many of those incidents are caused by kids under the age of 25, and generally because they're distracted," she says.

In fact, Johnson tells us about 65 percent of accidents that come across her desk involve driver's under 25.

"They're required to have 30 hours of classroom training.  That's what we give them--30 hours of classroom training. Once they finish that, they will have 6 hours of behind the wheel training," Johnson says.

And there's going to be a lot of concentration on putting an end to distracted driving.  Talking on the phone, texting, eating while driving, putting on makeup--Johnson says it will all be covered.

And she says with the time and investment, it will pay off in fewer accidents coming across her desk.
"When time and attention is paid to training our young adult drivers properly, statistics, the crash ratings are all much lower.  So, we hope to share in that,"

The program is $50 per student, and is only being offered to teens who live in Chattanooga.  The first class that starts Monday at the Brainerd Rec Center, and it's already full.

Johnson says the program will expand next month to more classes and more locations. She also told us there is some discussion to involve the rest of the county, but nothing is set in stone yet.

Anyone interested in getting their teen involved in the program can call 311.