The program was started five years ago when the firm was involved in several careless driving lawsuits involving teenage drivers. Sensing a need in the community, the firm speculated that tragic accidents caused by inexperienced teenager drivers could be reduced if the firm could instruct teenager drivers based on the past mistakes made by young drivers.
Judge Richard Sutton of Polk Superior Court has made a positive impact with the students by visiting and discussing the responsibility of safe driving and the ramifications of careless driving. Lundy offers that ''Judge Sutton doesn’t want to see any teenager in his courtroom for a driving accident, and he tells about some specific cases to drive that point home.''
Chris Beeler of Beeler Insurance Agency also contributes to the program by providing insurance literature when he visits the classroom and informs the students on the connection between teenage accidents and rising insurance rates. Other contributors to the class include Frank Burgess Jr, of Auto Owners Insurance Company, Ron Ray, of State Farm Insurance Company and Norman Smith, a paramedic with Polk County EMT and Cedartown Fire Department.
Lundy acknowledges that although the driving school is not a government course, it is a must for teenagers. ''The state of Georgia doesn’t recognize it for the course requirements, but it is a ‘rubber meets the road’ practical course in what and how to avoid the most common teenage mistakes while driving.''
Lundy speculates that ''if our firm can prevent one death or serious injury with the class, it is worth every bit of the time to put this course on. With the increased number of students in the driving school every year, we must be hitting the right nerve. My partners, Rich Lundy and Chuck Morris, and I are committed to this course as long as we practice law. It makes a difference.''
