Parent/Caregiver-Teen Driving Agreement

GEORGIA DIVISION OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES PARENT/CAREGIVER-TEEN DRIVING AGREEMENT

Teen Driver Responsibilities

By initialing and signing below, I ______, acknowledge and understand that driving is a privilege and I will do my best to follow all driving laws, rules, and regulations. I promise to drive carefully and cautiously and will be courteous to other driver’s, bicyclists, and pedestrians at all times 1. I promise to follow all laws as outlined in the Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA) and Joshua’s Law2

______I promise that I will obey all the rules of the road.

 I will always wear a seat belt and make sure that all of my passengers buckle up

 I will obey all traffic lights, stop signs, road markings, and other street signs

 I will stay within the speed limit

 I will not use the car to race or try to impress others

 I will never pick up hitchhikers

______I promise that I will make sure that I stay focused on driving safely

 I will drive with both hands on the wheel

 I will not eat, drink, or use a cell phone to talk or text while I am driving the car

 I will not drive when I am emotionally upset or impaired in any way

 I will call my parents, caregivers, or other responsible adult for a ride home if I am impaired in any way that interferes with my ability to drive safely

 I will not use earphones to listen to my IPod/MP3 or other electronic device when I am driving

______I promise that I will respect all laws relating to illegal possession and use of drugs and alcohol

 I will only drive when I am drug and alcohol free

1 The American Academy of Pediatrics and Center for Disease Control Parent-Teen Driving Agreement (www.aap.org/publiced/DRTeenDriver.htm) ,

2 For more information on TADRA or Joshua’s Law, visit the Georgia Department of Driver’s Services website at www.dds.ga.gov GEORGIA DIVISION OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES PARENT/CAREGIVER-TEEN DRIVING AGREEMENT

 I will never allow illegal drugs or alcohol in the car at any time, or for any purpose

 I will never get in the car with someone who has been using drugs or alcohol as the driver or the passenger

______I promise that I will be a respectful and responsible driver

 I will only drive when I have permission to use the car and I will not let anyone else drive the car without permission

 I will not drive anyone else’s car without permission

 I will always have a valid driver’s license with me and proof of insurance on the vehicle when I am driving

 I will promptly report all accidents and incidents that occur on the road to my parent/caregiver, whether or not any damage or injuries occurred, and will cooperate with any further investigations or reporting by law enforcement and insurance companies as requested from me by my parent/caregiver.

 I will promptly notify my parent/caregiver of all tickets received, whether parking or moving violations, and will be responsible for paying all fees and fines associated with those tickets. This includes but is not limited to all towing and storage charges, or at the very minimum reimbursing my parent/caregiver of such fees, if and only if, they are willing to pay the costs up- front and accept reimbursement later.

 I will maintain good grades and complete family responsibilities as listed here: ______

 I will contribute for the cost of gasoline, maintenance, and insurance as listed here: ______

I agree to follow all the rules and restrictions in this contract. I understand that my parents/caregivers can and will impose penalties including suspension or removal of my driving privileges. I also understand that at a minimum, Georgia laws and DFCS guidelines include3:

 A nighttime driving restriction between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. through 18 years of age

 Cell phone and handheld device use is prohibited except for emergencies for drivers under age 18. This includes a texting ban for ALL drivers.

3 The Allstate Foundation Parent-Teen Driving Agreement, 2012 GEORGIA DIVISION OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES PARENT/CAREGIVER-TEEN DRIVING AGREEMENT

 Passenger restrictions exist for the first six (6) months immediately following licensure unless the passenger is an immediate family member. After this initial 6-month period, the teen is permitted to have one other passenger in the vehicle outside of immediate family. Restrictions on the number and type of passengers exist through age 18.

 No other foster children, including those placed in the home with the teen driver will be allowed as passengers in the vehicle being operated by the teen.

Parent/Caregiver Responsibilities

As a parent/caregiver for ______, I also agree to drive safely and be an excellent role model. I promise to do what I can to help my teen succeed in following this agreement and promise to make myself available to my teen should they need me to help them with any driving situation. I further agree to establish consequences for violations of this contract as deemed appropriate by me and/or DFCS.

Signatures:

Teen Driver: ______Date: ______

Parent/Caregiver: ______Date: ______

DFCS SSCM or ILS: ______Date: ______

Note: Prepare multiple original copies and provide the youth, parent (when applicable) caregiver, and DFCS with copies.