ATLANTA (AP) - The Governor's Office of Highway Safety has awarded $10,500 in scholarships to members of its teen advisory commission.
Officials said Thursday that 21 students have been each awarded $500 scholarships for participating in the Governor's Commission on Teen Driving. The scholarships are part of a $20,000 grant from the Ford Driving Skills for Life program.
Officials say the money not being used for scholarships will fund an event where commissioners can reach out to their peers with safe driving strategies and messages.
The commissioners were appointed to the panel by Gov. Nathan Deal and asked for harsher penalties for teens that are caught driving while sending text messages or using smartphones.
Highway safety officials say car crashes are the no. 1 cause of death for teens in Georgia.
