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Community Corner

National Teen Driver Safety Week Starting

Established by Congress in 2007, it is dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to preventable teen deaths on the road.

 

Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death of teenagers in the United States and in California.  Each year, thousands of young drivers and their passengers are killed in collisions.  To help bring awareness to this national problem, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will participate in the 6th Annual National Teen Driver Safety Week October 14-20, 2012. 

 “This week is dedicated to focusing attention on a national concern as a way to bring about change locally,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.  “By educating new drivers early on and arming them with the information needed to become a safe driver, our goal is to prevent future tragedies from occurring on the road.”

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 According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System for 2010, the most recent year that finalized data is available, there were more than 57,000 drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 involved in collisions in California.  A teen driver was determined to be at fault in 67 percent of those collisions. 

 “Safe driving habits begin at home,” added Commissioner Farrow.  “Parents can help by communicating the rules of the road to their teen driver and serving as a good role model behind the wheel.” 

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 Bringing new drivers and their parents together, the CHP offers Start Smart a free, two-hour driver safety education class that is offered throughout the state.  Parents or guardians are encouraged to contact their local CHP office for additional details and information on when classes are scheduled. 

 National Teen Driver Safety Week, established by Congress in 2007, is dedicated to raising awareness and seeking solutions to preventable teen deaths on the road.  It is held annually during the third week of October.

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