AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Driver Services urges residents to add an emergency contact to their driver’s license record, saying the update takes two minutes and costs nothing.

The agency said the information becomes immediately accessible to police and medical teams through their systems—a critical advantage if a driver is unconscious, or if their phone is locked or broken following a crash.

No new physical license is required, officials said. Drivers can complete the update online through the DDS website at no charge. Visit the website here for more details.

Officials said the update is especially important for people with medical conditions or memory loss who may not be able to communicate during an emergency.

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Officials in Georgia launched a new program that will allow survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, human trafficking, stalking and other similar crimes to shield their addresses on public records.

Georgia’s Safe at Home Program will give qualified residents a substitute address for use on most state and local public records, a spokesperson from the Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s Office reported.

The goal of the program is to prevent abusers from locating survivors through public information, the press release said.

“Every Georgian deserves to feel safe in their own home,” Raffensperger said. “For far too many survivors, something as simple as a home address can become a tool for those who seek to harm them.”

The program will also provide mail forwarding and protected voter registration.

“This program is about more than protecting an address. It’s about protecting people,” Raffensperger said. “Survivors should be able to build a new life without constantly worrying that the person who harmed them can find them through a public record.”

The Safe at Home Program was established by Senate Bill 324, which passed the Georgia General Assembly in 2024, and officially started Wednesday.

Advocates called the bill a historic milestone for survivors across the Peach State.

“This program recognizes that every survivor deserves the opportunity to rebuild their lives without fear of being found by the person who harmed them,” said Karimah Dillard, Director of Policy for Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “The Address Confidentiality Program is a lifesaving investment in survivor safety, dignity, and independence.”

To learn more about the program, click or tap here.