SACRAMENTO,
Calif. – Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the
United States. In fact, the chance of a
teen being involved in a crash is highest during their first two years of
driving. The California Highway Patrol
(CHP), with the support of the grant-funded Start Smart Teen Driver Safety
Education Program XIV, is working to help inexperienced drivers identify
and eliminate high-risk driving behaviors.
Facilitated
by CHP officers, the two-hour Start Smart course engages newly licensed
teenage drivers and their parents or guardians in candid conversations on topics
such as techniques to avoid crashes and the dangers of excessive speed,
impaired driving, and distracted driving.
“Start Smart is designed to encourage safe driving behaviors early
on,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray.
“The curriculum reinforces that driving is a great privilege, and it comes
with a tremendous amount of responsibility.”
Parents
and teenagers can register for a Start
Smart class by contacting
their local CHP Area office. More information
about Start Smart and California’s
provisional licensing law also is available on the free CHP Start Smart mobile app for Android
and iOS devices. This mobile app includes
access to the California Driver Handbook and a trip logger to track driving
time as teens prepare to obtain their driver’s license.
Funding for
this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic
Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The
mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
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