Temecula CHP To Offer Free Safety Driving Course For Teens, Parents

TEMECULA, CA — Newly licensed teenage drivers and their guardians are encouraged to join a free "Smart Start" class on Wednesday, Aug. 27, led by law enforcement to instill responsible driving habits and prevent accidents.

Hosted by the California Highway Patrol's Temecula office, the two-hour course is free and for those aged 15 to 19. The class will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 14 at Temecula City Hall, located at 41000 Main Street.

Led by a CHP officer, the session will cover topics such as collision avoidance techniques, the risks of excessive speed, driving under the influence, distracted driving and the importance of using a seat belt. The program also addresses the risks associated with having unsafe passengers and explains what steps to take during and after a collision.

During the course, officers hope to foster open and honest conversations between officers, teens and their parents about driving safely. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend with their teen driver, the CHP said.

The course is free, but seating is limited, so families are encouraged to register early by visiting this link.

"A teenager is killed in a traffic collision every four hours nationwide. That equates to more than 1,870 teenagers killed each year. Another 184,000 teenagers are injured in traffic collisions. These deaths and injuries can be substantially reduced or prevented by eliminating high-risk driving behaviors through education," event coordinators wrote.

The Start Smart program is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.