2022 Georgia Legislative Agenda

2022

GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND GEORGIA REGULATORY OBJECTIVES

GEORGIA DRIVING SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

who we are We are a Georgia nonprofit corporation established to bring unity to our industry and raise the standards for all those offering driver training to Georgia citizens. Our legislative agenda is a win-win agenda for the State of Georgia, its citizens as well as small businesses and public schools delivering these services. Our membership consists of driver training schools, DUI, DDC and CDL schools all over our great state. Our association is the largest representation of private schools offering driver training in our state.

our philosophy “WHEN WE WORK IN UNITY, NOTHING WE PROPOSE TO DO WILL BE WITHHELD FROM US. WHEN ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS COME TOGETHER - INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENTS, ASSOCIATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS - WE CAN BEST ACHIEVE OUR COMMON GOALS.“

OUR MEMBER'S LOCATIONS 2

GEORGIA DRIVING SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

our leadership team

AL BARBER

BRAD BARBER

KIRK BRESSETTE, PHD

CHAIRMAN/CEO/CO-FOUNDER

V. CHAIRMAN/CFO/CPO

PRESIDENT/COO

CO-FOUNDER

Appointed by Gov. Deal in 2017 to

Founded Georgia Driving Academy

Following an earlier career in

serve on the Georgia Driver Education

(GDA), the first privately-owned

counseling and education including

Commission Board (GDEC). Owner of

commercial driver training school

serving as Head Start Director for 12

Barber’s Driving School in Columbus,

in Georgia to receive national

years, Kirk transitioned into the driving

Georgia founded 1964. Al also served

accreditation through the Council on

industry focusing on training and

on the Governor’s Office of Highway

Occupational Education (COE). Brad

license testing. He is currently CEO/

Safety (GOHS) Older Driver Task Force

was active in the Commercial Vehicle

Co-Founder of Drive Smart Georgia.

and is a 45-year veteran of the driver

Training Association (CVTA) for more

training industry.

than 20 years and recently completed a two-year term as Chairperson.

3

GEORGIA DRIVING SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

GDEC MISSION STATEMENT “MAXIMIZE PARTICIPATION IN DRIVER’S EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO REDUCE MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES BY MAKING DRIVER TRAINING ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TO ALL GEORGIANS.”

The Georgia Driving School Association (GDSA) supports this mission aimed at increasing access to driver’s education statewide; especially for those at greater risk of motor vehicle crashes or that cannot afford the tuition.

GEORGIA DRIVER'S EDUCATION COMMISSION (GDEC) FUND INCREASE FROM 1.5% TO 3% GDSA supports increasing the scholarship fund from 1.5% to 3% to include two at risk groups of drivers: 1) Young Drivers ages 18-20 who are

Without the inclusion of the two recipient groups specified below (young and elderly drivers), GDSA does not believe a funding increase is necessary. In 2021, nearly all teen scholarship applicants aged 15-17 in need of financial aid received assistance.

Any funding increase that does not address the needs of Georgia’s two most at-risk groups – young drivers (ages 18-20) and older

obtaining their first Georgia driver’s license; and, 2) Older Drivers 55+ with a court or physician order (prescription) or DDS referral who have a higher crash risk due to a cognitive, physical, or vision impairment.

drivers (55+), opposes GDEC’s mission of making driver training affordable for all Georgians. If these groups are overlooked, the increase will be ineffective resulting in the excess funds going to

2021 GDEC SCHOLARSHIPS

4,786 AWARDED

those who can already afford driver education in our state.

Majority to needs-based recipients

TODAY, GDEC FUND RECIPIENTS MUST BE BETWEEN AGES 15 TO 17 The GDEC fund is designed to serve the students who need it the most. In 2021, nearly all Tier 2 applicants received assistance.

SELECTION PROCESS TIER 1: Children of public safety officials or military killed in line of duty TIER 2: Income-based need TIER 3: Applicants not meeting Tiers 1 & 2 criteria

4

GEORGIA DRIVING SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

PROPOSED GDEC FUND ADDITION: YOUNG DRIVERS AGES 18-20 In 2019, young drivers represented 8% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes. Over the last decade, the majority of young drivers involved in fatal crashes were 18–20 year olds. Many of these young drivers did not receive driver education in high school. The new trend of young drivers waiting to seek a license until after age 18 is a serious problem, because they are not taught driver education during their high school years. With additional GDEC funding, we can deliver driver’s education to many in this age group who cannot afford it.

“72% of all young drivers involved in fatal crashes were in the 18-20 age group.”

(Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2010–2019).

PROPOSED GDEC FUND ADDITION: OLDER DRIVERS 55+ WITH MEDICAL RISKS

The second group are older drivers ages 55+ identified by the GOHS Older Driver Safety Program and Georgia’s Older Driver Task Force.

The “Five E’s” of the Older Driver Task Force includes “Education”. Adding older drivers to the GDEC fund, especially those with medical or court referrals for an older driver evaluation, will help mitigate over $300 million in annual medical costs resulting from the injury/death rates of Georgia’s elderly drivers identified by the GOHS. An Older Driver Evaluation is comprehensive and includes four components: 1) Health History Questionnaire; 2) Clinical Evaluation (e.g. cognitive, visual, physical); 3) Prescription Drug Assessment; 4) Comprehensive Road Test. GDSA proposes giving GDEC the ability to provide grants to drivers of all ages for the in-vehicle road test portion that currently ranges from $250-300 within Georgia. The commission should also have the flexibility to include training or other services the board finds appropriate when providing driver education to this at risk group. The clinical portion is typically funded by Medicare, private health insurance or the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.

CLINICAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

+

ROAD TEST BY TPT EXAMINER

WHEN ORDERED BY A JUDGE

OR

LICENSED PHYSICIAN

5

GEORGIA DRIVING SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

THIRD PARTY TESTING ADD ONLINE/PARENT-TAUGHT

We are seeking a legislative addition to current Third-Party Testing (TPT) laws to include TPT testing of Group B below. This will allow the TPT to test nearly everyone who is currently being tested for their class D and C licenses. In the event of DDS shutdowns due to pandemics or other problems, this ensures the State of Georgia still has a fully operating TPT system serving Georgians in every major population center. Currently, approved local TPT driving schools can perform the road skills test for new drivers who have completed a driver’s education program consisting of 30-hours classroom instruction and 6-hours behind-the-wheel training with a licensed instructor. This option has been successful, and local driver training schools have increased their testing capacity to help reduce the burden on DDS Customer Service Centers (CSC). To further limit the testing demands imposed on DDS CSCs and provide Georgia drivers with more flexibility in testing options both today and in the future, the remaining 53% of Georgia’s young drivers should be permitted to test through approved, licensed TPT programs. This will allow driver training schools to serve the whole of their local communities while also cutting wait times at DDS CSCs. Thus, Group B should be added to the clients approved for TPT testing.

UNDER CURRENT REGULATIONS TESTING AT DDS CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER

GROUP

NEW DRIVER TYPE

A

30/6 TEEN DRIVER WITH TRADITIONAL

37% OF TEEN DRIVERS

B

53% OF TEEN DRIVERS

C

AT LEAST 50K IN FY2019

D

UNKNOWN BUT MINIMAL

DRIVER EDUCATION 30-HOURS IN-CLASSROOM OR ONLINE, 6 HOURS

YES

BEHIND THE WHEEL WITH A LICENSED INSTRUCTOR

TESTING AT LOCAL DRIVING SCHOOL THROUGH TPT PROGRAM

YES*

AT THE SCHOOL THAT PROVIDED THE 6 HOURS OF BEHIND THE WHEEL TRAINING

30/6 TEEN DRIVER WITH PARTIAL DRIVER EDUCATION 30-HOUR IN-CLASSROOM OR ONLINE, PARENT

YES

NO

YES

YES

SIGNATURE FOR 40-HOUR DRIVING (UNDER 18) DRIVERS 18+ WITH OR WITHOUT DRIVER EDUCATION

30/6 TEEN DRIVER WITH PARTIAL DRIVER EDUCATION 30-HOUR IN-CLASSROOM OR ONLINE, 6 HOURS BEHIND THE WHEEL AT APPROVED TPT (UNDER 18)

6

YES

YES*

AT THE SCHOOL THAT PROVIDED THE 6 HOURS OF BEHIND THE WHEEL TRAINING

GEORGIA DRIVING SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

ALCOHOL & DRUG REDUCTION PROGRAM (DUI) The Georgia Driving School Association (GDSA) supports an education-first policy for DUI offenders in Georgia as well as a simplified process, especially for first convictions. The goal of the Risk Reduction Program is to educate and help Georgians make better choices on and off the state’s road system.

Current DUI offenders face a lengthy multi-year process before either an acquittal or conviction is reached. The overall reinstatement process itself, even after conviction and license revocation, is very lengthy. From the time a Georgian is charged with a DUI until they take their risk reduction course, the process takes years requiring temporary licenses and multiple court dates.

The GDSA believes that better education leads to better choices, and better choices lead to better outcomes on Georgia’s roads. The educational and counseling components should come sooner in the process for DUI offenders and inform the decisions of Georgia’s DDS at the driver’s Administrative License Hearing (ALS).

Drivers seeking to appeal a license revocation, should prove they have taken the basic steps of education through a state-approved alcohol and drug risk reduction course. Repeat offenders should also be required to obtain a recommendation from a state-licensed drug and

Our State Regulatory Objectives

alcohol evaluator.

Currently, we are working with DDS to improve services

DRIVER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TUITION INCREASE FROM $95 TO $115

for Georgia citizens, driver training schools and CDL training schools including:

The GDSA supports an increase in course fees commensurate with rising costs in rent, insurance,

1. Reduce the time needed for Driving Instructor

fuel, vehicles and employee expenses. A modest tuition

training from 30–45 days to two weeks

increase from $95 to $115 will help cover these rising

2. Reviewing outdated rules that make it harder for

operating costs.

driving schools and the DDS to deliver fast, highquality service to our citizens.

7

WWW.GEORGIADRIVINGSCHOOLASSOCIATION.ORG 3709 GENTIAN BLVD, SUITE 5 COLUMBUS, GEORGIA 31907 706-561-2509