THOMASVILLE — Teen drivers under 18 might want to face the music and level with their parents about encounters with Georgia State Patrol troopers.

No longer will teen drivers be able to stay mum about tickets or warnings issued to them by troopers.

In its sixth day, the Teen Driver Parental Notification Program is designed to initiate dialogue between parents and teen-agers after a teen driver has been stopped by a trooper for a traffic violation. Warnings are included in the program.

Troopers statewide implemented the initiative last Thursday.

Parents often do not know their child has received a traffic citation until insurance premiums increase, or when a child’s driver’s license is suspended.

In announcing the program, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue said notifying parents about their children’s traffic violations will encourage teen drivers to be more responsible drivers and help save lives.

“Hopefully, parent and child will discuss the offense,” said Sgt. Ron Warren, commander of Thomasville Post 12 Georgia State Patrol.

“This is the very beginning of the process,” the commander said.

While the program will begin with GSP troopers, it might encompass local law enforcement agencies as it grows, Warren said.

Sixteen-year-old drivers have a higher crash rate than drivers of any other age, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“That’s probably strictly inexperience. That’s going to be a primary factor,” Warren explained.

The program includes warnings, as well as full-fledged citations. In both cases, parents or legal guardians will receive letters.

The program will require no additional GSP personnel to implement.

Post 12 troopers do not stop an overwhelming number of teen drivers, the commander said, but the precise number will be documented as letters are written to parents.

Warren said parents who receive letters should feel free to contact him or other Post 12 supervisors about the situation.

“We’d be happy to discuss it with them,” the commander explained.