Sacramento, CA, January 9, 2012 – Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death among teenagers across the United States and in California. Each year, thousands of young drivers and their passengers are killed in collisions. Designed for newly licensed teens and their parents, the CHP offers Start Smart, a two-hour driver safety education class that is conducted throughout the state. The free program is an interactive driver safety class for teens and their parents. During the course, officers and speakers illustrate the critical responsibilities of safe driving and collision avoidance techniques. Parents are also reminded of their responsibility to teach their new driver and model good driving behavior. Parents and teenagers can sign up for a Start Smart class by contacting their local CHP office. Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
