GLENDORA, CA — The Glendora Police Department is encouraging parents and guardians to talk with their teenagers about safe driving habits during National Teen Driver Safety Week, the agency announced on Friday.
The annual campaign, which begins Oct. 18, aims to raise awareness of the risks facing young drivers and encourage families to establish safe driving practices before teens get behind the wheel.
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 18 in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,320 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2024. In California, 496 people died that year in crashes involving drivers ages 20 or younger.
Police officials are encouraging teens to recognize the dangers of risky driving behaviors, including speeding, texting while driving, failing to wear a seat belt and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
"Meaningful conversations at home can help shape the choices teens make on the road," Glendora Police Capt. Shelly Gold said in a statement. "Parents and guardians who talk about distractions, speeding and impairment give teens the tools to navigate real-world risks and steer them toward safer habits every time they drive."
Police officials emphasize that conversations about safe driving, combined with consistent examples from parents and guardians, can help young drivers develop responsible habits and reduce risks on the road.
The department also encourages teens and their families to use free, mobile-friendly educational resources provided by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Resources include the California Quick Reference Driver's Handbook, educational videos and the Teen Driver Roadmap, a step-by-step video guide designed to help teens and parents prepare for safe driving.
The department's teen driver safety efforts are funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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