Dalton Police introduce new teen driver program

DALTON, Georgia(WDEF) – Dalton Police have started a new program to reduce the number of teenage related traffic crashes.

The program is called Collision Avoidance Training or C.A.T.

Caleb Chastain, 16 of Dalton and Jay Tripp 16, 0f Dalton joined eight other teenagers in the C.A.T. Program. Both teens have already been involved in a crash.

"I didn’t see them behind a box truck and I pulled out in front of them without double checking," Chastain said.

"I pulled out in front of somebody that I couldn’t see coming and they hit me. It was my fault," Tripp said.

Dalton police officer David Saylor and several other officers worked one-on-one with each of the 10 teenagers who signed up for the program.

"In this program, we’re going to focus a lot on backing, evasive maneuvers and then serpentine where they will go into curves at different angles," Said Officer Saylor.

Every participant also got the chance to accelerate their vehicle to a speed of 35 mph before breaking between two cones.

"We learned a lot about breaking and how to break in time and how it should feel. We also learned about backing and how to avoid hitting people if you’re backing in a parking lot," Tripp said.

"It really gave me more insight on how to actually drive. I’ve already been in one wreck and it was my fought so I think this class can help me and probably help the other teens here. I think other teens need to try it," Chastain said.

Other teens will get that chance because the Dalton Police Department is already planning more of these events in the coming year. Cost is $25 and each class is limited to 10 drivers.