Kelseyville >> The leading cause of death for Americans 15 to 20 years old is motor vehicle collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) goal is to reduce the death rate among young drivers as the result of these collisions. The CHP’s “Start Smart” program is aimed at helping newly licensed and future licensed teenage drivers understand the critical responsibilities of driving and to understand that accidents happen, but collisions are 100 percent preventable.
The Clear Lake Area CHP will offer a free Start Smart traffic safety class for newly licensed and teenage drivers and their parents/guardians. The class will run approximately 2 hours and will be offered on Jan. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the CHP office in Kelseyville.
The program is designed to provide an interactive safe driving awareness class that will illustrate how poor choices behind the wheel of a car can affect the lives of numerous people. Start Smart also focuses on responsibilities of newly licensed drivers, responsibilities of parents/guardians and collision avoidance techniques.
“The CHP is committed to mitigating traffic collisions involving young, inexperienced drivers because they are preventable,” Lt. Hector Paredes said. “Start Smart is an excellent program that promotes safe driving for young new drivers.”
Space is limited for this class. For information or reservations, call Officer Kory Reynolds at the CHP office at 279-0103.
