Operation Drive Smart

Operation Drive Smart is a three phase teen driving education program presented in partnership with Duluth Police, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, local schools, law enforcement and stakeholders directed at teenage drivers. The program is funded through a state grant to Duluth Police Department with all reporting aspects provided by Duluth Police. Schools may choose one of the three program phases during the grant period and Duluth Police may partner with the school for multiple phases over the course of several years.

Presentation Overview (2.0 MB)

“In A Split Second” – similar to the original “Ghost Out’” program
The Duluth Police remains committed to assisting other public safety agencies in organizing and promoting the Duluth version of “Ghost Out” , renamed “In A Split Second” because that’s the time it takes for a driving mistake to change a life forever. “In A Split Second” a weeklong educational campaign which takes high school students through an alcohol related automobile accident (Monday) and concludes with a funeral (Friday). Tuesday thru Thursday the students witness short news updates on various subjects related to the crash; parental death notification, student book-in, court appearance, etc.

Operation Drive Smart Expo
The Drive Smart Expo is an education fair conducted on high school campuses with the intent to educate teenage drivers on various subjects related to dangerous driving habits while encouraging relationship building with public safety officers. Educational booths at the expo include; roll-over simulator, DUI cart course, BAT mobile/chemical analysis, motor units/radar & laser enforcement, traffic units/dui & field sobriety, accident reconstruction, emergency medicine, major accident incident command,. Various agencies have joined forces on this project, they include; Duluth Police, Georgia State Patrol, Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Regional Life Flight, local law enforcement, fire services, district attorneys and area hospitals across the state.

Classroom Instruction
Police officers provide classroom instruction on various subjects pertaining to teen driving issues to high school students. This format provides additional time for students and officers to interact and allows students to ask specific questions.

Topics include

  • Georgia Teen Driving Law
  • Teens and DUI
  • Common Driver Mistakes
  • Teen Texting
  • Georgia Move-over Law