JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. — Driver's ed is back for one Big Bend Community. If you don't have a new driver, you might not think it impacts you.
But this really is good news for everyone on the road.
A crack down on distracted driving. It's the mission at Marianna High School. That's why this fall, driver's education will return.
"It was here years ago. We've fallen away from it and now were getting the opportunity to bring it back," said Travis Blanton, Assistant Principal at Marianna High School. "Mr. Martin, our principal, is committed to bringing driver's ed back to Marianna first then maybe branching it out to other schools."
The goal is to help teenagers make smarter choices behind the wheel.
"There will be two parts. One will be a classroom part where they will have to go through what they need to know on the roads," said Blanton. "Then there will be a driving section."
Florida Highway Safety says just this year there have been 305 crashes in Jackson County. People in the county say there's a need for change and are excited to see the program return.
"It's gotten pretty bad. You see a lot of kids texting and driving, answering the phone, talking on the phone with their friends," said Maria Long, a local parent. "I'm hoping that this class will help deter that."
Deputies say that distracted driving needs to be taken seriously. Captain Scott Edwards is hopeful that the driver's ed classes will help keep the roads safer.
"I think that it's very important. I'm glad the school is able to do this," said Edwards. "I hope we can partner with them to distribute it throughout the county to all the schools."
All in hopes of slowing down the amount of crashes in the county.
The driver's education class will be offered for three periods to start off.
Students must be at least 15-years-old to participate.
