Letter to the Editor: National Teen Driver Safety Week

(Editor's note: the following is a letter to the editor sent by Woodrow Gaines, founder of Fear This, Inc.)

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and yet it receives little or no mention from mainstream media. This issue is recognized as the leading cause for teen fatalities.

We lose more teens in car crashes than we do soldiers in war.  

This issue has no nationality, no official color, but does have roadside memorials and broken families. It has become acceptable for a teen to die in a car crash. "It won't happen to my family," seems to be the mantra of many parents.

I ask your help in passing our information on to your family and friends with teen drivers about what we do all year long. Our goal is to offer classes on a weekly basis. We need a voice to the community.   We are FEAR THIS, Inc. a nonprofit organization committed to safe teen driving based in Snellville, Ga. Our programs are for both teens and parents. These programs range from community displays, car shows, school PTA presentations to our hands-on driver training program.          

In January 2004, we launched TVOC, Police Training For Teen Drivers, an advanced driver training course teaching teens accident avoidance skills. Our course was designed and is taught by Police Academy Instructors. We are in our 9th year and have trained 3,200 teens in Georgia. We are making a difference and saving lives.     

We received a letter of support from the Forsyth County Juvenile Courts. We have a 98% success rate for teens being referred to us for first time offenses.   Jeff Foxworthy brought his daughter to us before sending her off to college this is what he has to say:  

"I have one daughter that has completed the 'Fear This' training and will soon be taking my other daughter as soon as she gets her license. As a parent, all you can do is prepare your children to the best of your ability and that is what 'Fear This' is all about. They give these young drivers information and new found skills that could very well save their lives and those of others. They are courteous, competent and want nothing more than to prevent teenage driving tragedies. I would recommend them to anyone!"

Please take a moment to view our TVOC Promo to see how we train teen drivers.   Please visit our website or our FaceBook page and feel free to call me, Woodrow Gaines, with any questions at (770) 823-7823.