The mission of the Joshua Brown Foundation is to develop 21st Century Driver’s Education and see it instituted in all of Georgia’s high schools to save the lives the state’s teen drivers.

Joshua Brown - The story behind the law

JaLynn Hudnall — Teenagers across the state have heard of Joshua, even if they don't realize it. Joshua's Law was drafted and introduced to the Georgia General assembly by state Sen. Preston smith. Most teenagers can tell you the gist of the law is that in order to get their driver's license at age 16, they have to have completed a certified driver's education course; otherwise, they must wait until they are 17.

If you are like me, you will remember driver's ed consisting of spending an hour with a football coach driving around town running errands. My high school had a small hatchback car that the state provided and the course lasted a semester. At one point, I remember a very large tractor-trailer coming to school for one week of simulator training. The same course was written in 1952 and has not been updated since. That was before I was born!

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Newly Licensed Car
Magnets

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia — Donne Kessler, 16, of Kennesaw drives a nice-looking car —a black 2006 Acura RSX coupe. But his parents made Donne put something on the back that’s not so cool: a 4-by-8-inch magnet that tells the world “Caution — Newly Licensed.”

His mom, Susie Kessler, would like to see every teenager in Georgia do the same. She thinks other drivers will back off when they see the magnets — a good idea around new drivers who are too aggressive and those too timid.

Donne said he doesn’t like the magnet, but it works.

“In driver’s education we learned about the ‘space cushion’ that should be between cars,” he said. “When you have the magnet on, you automatically have that.”

Susie Kessler’s campaign has distributed about 15,000 magnets in the state so far. Now she’s got the attention of state Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), who said he’s considering writing a bill requiring the magnets for young drivers in Georgia. Details such as what ages would be covered haven’t been figured out, he said. Kessler would like to see a law cover learner’s permits and first-year licenses.

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13 States Now Have Laws Against Texting While Driving

CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella — Chances are, if you took driver-ed or one of those refresher courses, the instructor told you most accidents are preventable, if only the driver would pay attention.

That's why 13 states now have laws against texting while driving and 17 more are considering them. But some experts say what we really need is a federal ban.

The only ting that could prevent one bus driver in San Antonio, Tex. from sending text messages on his phone… was the SUV in front of him. No one was seriously hurt that crash, but the people on a Los Angeles commuter train weren't so lucky.

Twenty-five people were killed in a train collision last fall, including the driver, who was sending text messages moments before the crash.

Russell and Kim Hurd lost their daughter Heather last year. She wasn't texting at the wheel, but a tractor-trailer several cars behind her was. She and another driver were killed instantly in the crash.

"He was not speeding," Kim Hurd said. "He just wasn't looking at the road"

"His poor decisions changed my life forever," added Russell Hurd.

Law enforcement officials say texting at the wheel is one of the most dangerous driving habits - but it's also one of the hardest to resist.

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