News Summary
In Georgia, new law enforcement officers are undertaking a rigorous high-speed driving training program to enhance road safety and reduce accidents. Conducted at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, the training includes practical assessments and techniques like pit maneuvers. Recruits are required to log a minimum of 56 hours of driving instruction, focusing on navigating challenging scenarios and making split-second decisions. The initiative aims to prepare officers for high-speed pursuits while promoting responsible driving to improve public safety on state roads.
Forsyth, Georgia – Starting this year, new law enforcement officers in Georgia are undergoing rigorous high-speed driving training aimed at enhancing road safety and reducing fatalities, injuries, and accidents on the state’s roads. The program, which has been developed by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, takes place at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, located approximately one hour south of downtown Atlanta.
The training initiative is designed to prepare recruits for the demands of high-speed pursuits, particularly as they may confront criminals operating high-performance vehicles such as Camaros, Mustangs, and Hellcats. Recruits are taught to navigate challenging scenarios to improve their driving skills and decision-making in high-stress situations. Key obstacles include maneuvering through congested suburban streets while avoiding potential hazards like pedestrians, mailboxes, and other vehicles.
Ara Baronian, the Director of Basic Training at GPSTC, has underscored the importance of this training in preventing injuries among officers during vehicle collisions. As part of the new standard, recruits are now required to log at least 56 hours of driving instruction. This mandate marks a significant step forward in law enforcement training across the state.
The training process begins with the basics, introducing recruits to fundamental driving skills such as turning, braking, backing up, accelerating, and decelerating safely. Trainees start with a cones course designed to simulate real-life hazards, allowing them to hone their skills in a controlled environment. Initial assessments emphasize essential driving techniques, ensuring recruits are well-prepared before advancing to more complex tasks.
In practical evaluations of the training course, a reporter attempted to navigate the cones but was quickly met with intense pressure, which led to failure in completing the test. This highlights the high stakes involved in high-speed driving scenarios. Over time, recruits progressively practice making split-second decisions on urban tracks where they are exposed to critical and high-priority driving situations. This element of the training is crucial for teaching recruits how to maintain vehicle control at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.
In addition to mastering high-speed driving, the program includes training on executing pit maneuvers, a technique used to stop fleeing vehicles safely and effectively. Each aspect of the training is essential for preparing law enforcement officers to respond adequately and safely to emergencies on the road.
The high-speed driving course has been ongoing for 16 weeks, and the initial feedback from both recruits and instructors has been positive. This response suggests that the training could significantly contribute to enhancing road safety across Georgia. Although instructors do not track specific statistics related to the efficacy of the training program, they maintain communication with local, state, and federal partners to continuously refine and improve training methods.
As the training program evolves, it aims not only to equip officers with necessary driving skills but also to instill a greater sense of responsibility for road safety among law enforcement personnel. As these new recruits complete their rigorous training, they are prepared to tackle the challenges of high-speed pursuits and contribute positively to public safety on Georgia’s highways.
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Additional Resources
- WSBTV: Georgia Police Academy Instructor Charged with Child Molestation
- Atlanta News First: Former Georgia Public Safety Training Center Employee Arrested for Sex Offenses
- Governing: Georgia First in the Nation to Require Police Training in Election Law
- AJC: Ex-Georgia Police Academy Instructor Accused of Molesting Teen Girl for Years
- 11Alive: Georgia Mandatory Law Enforcement Training Hours for New Recruits
- Wikipedia: Law Enforcement in the United States
- Google Search: Georgia law enforcement training
- Google Scholar: Police training Georgia
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Police
- Google News: Georgia police training
