Senate Bill 226, more commonly known as Joshua’s Law, was passed in 2005 and went into effect in 2007. This law requires 16 and 17-year-olds trying to obtain their Class D drivers license to complete 30 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of supervised driving, including 6 hours at night.

Joshua’s Law was created in honor of Joshua Brown, a 17-year-old who was killed in a car accident. His father, Alan Brown, drafted it in order to improve the safety of teenage drivers. Senior Madilyn Wachlin, president of Impact Teen Drivers Club, a club that advocates for the safety of teenage drivers, believes Brown’s story emphasizes the importance of staying attentive and being defensive while driving.

“Joshua’s story shows how one moment can change everything and [how] important it is to always make good decisions on the road,” Wachlin said. “[Joshua’s] Law is so important and helped save many lives.”

Currently, Joshua’s Law is part of the legislation in 14 states, including Georgia. Mary Van Atta, Impact Teen Drivers Club Supervisor, believes having knowledge of driving rules can increase a new driver’s confidence and attentiveness behind the wheel.

“The more educated a young driver is in all facets of driving and the more they can see consequences of dangerous behaviors and benefits of safe behaviors behind the wheel, the safer and more confident they will be,” Van Atta said.

Of all car crash related deaths in 2023, 29% were in crashes related to speed. That said, high speed driving involves a greater risk because of diminished reaction time and elevated crash energy, among other factors. Because driving often features high speeds, Van Atta believes proper training in driving is important to ensure driver safety.

“Drivers are operating a major piece of machinery, sometimes at high speeds, every day,” Van Atta said. “We would not have people operating any other major piece of equipment without training.”

Of cities in the United States, drivers in Atlanta have the highest chance of crash involvement. That said, Health teacher Issac Taylor, who covers Joshua’s Law in his curriculum, believes that driving experience prior to receiving a drivers license contributes to an improvement in driver safety overall.

“When you get your permit and you actually have to practice and get ready to get your license, I think that year that it takes with your permit and getting the actual experience is what prepares you,” Taylor said. “I think… you gain more confidence in the skills you need. It’s just like riding a bike… Any experience you can get before getting your license and going out there the better, and it helps keep everybody safe. Not just the person inside that car, but everywhere.”

For teenagers ages 16 to 19, the risk associated with car accidents is higher than that of any other age group. That said, Wachlin believes the content taught through the educational portion of Joshua’s Law facilitates the development of advantageous driving practices in new drivers.

“Joshua’s Law is important because it teaches content that can help save lives,” Wachlin said. “Car deaths are one of the leading causes of deaths for teens. A structured course to help teenagers better understand the roads and [build] safe driving habits can help prevent car related deaths, injuries or crashes.”

Junior Lydia Berry, who plans to take the educational course, believes Joshua’s Law is beneficial for novice and experienced drivers, as it helps to improve driver safety by providing drivers with up-to-date information on driving laws through its education requirement.

“Joshua’s Law definitely positively impacts the safety of new and experienced drivers,” Berry said. “With driving being a major cause of death, especially in this day and age, it is crucial to have good driving skills. Joshua’s Law produces the next generation of responsible drivers leading to safer driving in Georgia.”

Like Berry, Wachlin believes the educational portion of Joshua’s Law benefits drivers of all experience levels.

“Joshua Law provides novice drivers a structured path to becoming a better and safer driver, giving these inexperienced drivers [all of] the tools to feel confident and prepared to go the roads,” Wachlin said. “It also gives experienced drivers security, since better-trained drivers leads to more road safety.”

Because driving laws can change, Van Atta believes being educated on relevant driving laws contributes to increased safety in all drivers.

“Passengers and other travelers on the road… are all safer and happier when people behind the wheel know what they are doing and follow the rules,” Van Atta said. “Drivers of all ages need to stay up-to-date on driving laws and on their skills since laws can change over time, laws can be different in different states and skills change over time as well.”

Over one million people die in car accidents each year, and an additional 20 to 50 million people sustain injuries. That said, Wachlin believes having an awareness of driving risks can help to prevent potential accidents.

“People need to know the rules so they can make quick, safe decisions when situations happen on the road,” Wachlin said. “Understanding the laws and risks before driving on your own helps prevent accidents and leads to responsible drivers.”

Because of the dangerous driving conditions in Atlanta, including traffic congestion due to factors such as urban sprawl, Berry believes Joshua’s Law will provide her with the necessary resources to drive responsibly and navigate difficulties on the road.

“I believe I will develop the necessary skills to learn how to be a cautious and responsible driver,” Berry said. “Driving, particularly in Atlanta, can be very dangerous, so it is very important to know how to drive safely. Joshua’s law will equip me with the necessity to become a great and responsible driver.”

Because of the unique driving conditions prevalent in cities compared to that of less crowded areas, Taylor believes having experience in these conditions is important.

“Especially for the drivers in the city, you guys have to start your driving careers advanced because the [of the] advanced drivers that live in the city,” Taylor said. “You guys have to deal with different types of people coming in and out, and they may not even live here… so I think especially in the city you do need to drive around and get familiar with the ins and outs because there’s certain traffic signs that you don’t see anywhere [else].”

Because the educational portion of Joshua’s Law includes content on insurance and driving practices, Berry believes the information from the course will allow her to maintain financial security in her future.

“Having the knowledge of driving rules and experience driving prior to obtaining my license will provide me with a strong foundation of knowledge to protect me in the future,” Berry said. “When I eventually receive my license, the knowledge I have accumulated from my Joshua’s Law can help protect me in dangerous situations and potentially be life saving. Having this knowledge can help me in vulnerable situations and allow me to protect my insurance and finances.”

Since Joshua; into effect, teen driver fatalities have lowered by 60%. Wachlin believes the requirements of Joshua’s Law give new drivers the framework to succeed by educating them on essential driving rules and giving them the means to practice safe driving while supervised.

“Joshua’s Law has had a huge positive impact on [student] drivers by enforcing a structured course on driver education with practice hours to ensure that teen drivers are ready to be on the road,” Wachlin said.