MENIFEE, CA — Menifee police are encouraging parents and guardians to talk with their teens about safe driving habits ahead of National Teen Driver Safety Week, emphasizing the dangers of speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving.
National Teen Driver Safety Week begins Sunday. Conversations at home can help teens recognize the risks of unsafe driving and make responsible decisions behind the wheel, Menifee police said on Friday.
The annual safety campaign aims to raise awareness of teen driving risks and encourage families to build safer habits before young drivers get behind the wheel.
"Meaningful conversations at home can help shape the choices teens make on the road," Sgt. Dan Beare 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."
The agency advised teens to avoid dangerous behaviors, including texting while driving, speeding, failing to wear seat belts and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Parents were also encouraged to follow traffic laws, avoid phone use while driving, minimize distractions, obey posted speed limits and wear seat belts. Families also can establish a teen driving contract outlining expectations and rules for driving, police said.
Police recommend encouraging teens to speak up when riding with someone who is speeding, distracted, not wearing a seat belt or otherwise driving unsafely.
Police said the California Department of Motor Vehicles offers free, mobile-friendly resources to help teens prepare for driving, including the California Quick Reference Driver's Handbook, educational videos and the Teen Driver Roadmap. The roadmap provides a step-by-step video guide for teens and their parents as they prepare for the driving experience.
The California Office of Traffic Safety also recommends that parents and guardians familiarize themselves and their teens with the state's provisional licensing and graduated driver licensing laws. These laws place restrictions on passengers and nighttime driving during the first year a teen holds a license.
Teens, parents, educators, mentors and other California drivers can practice safe driving in realistic scenarios through "The Road Ahead," a free, web-based driving simulation available at TheRoadAhead.GoSafelyCA.org.
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