Free CHP Class Aims To Keep Southwest RivCo's Teen Drivers Safe

MENIFEE, CA — A free program designed to help keep young drivers safe is once again being offered by the California Highway Patrol Temecula Area office.

The CHP's next "Start Smart" class will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at 29737 New Hub Drive, Suite #201, in Menifee.

The Start Smart program focuses on providing comprehensive traffic safety education classes for teenagers and parents.

"Start Smart employs innovative techniques to capture the attention of teenagers and parents, providing a lasting experience," according to CHP Officer Mike Lassig. "The curriculum includes information on collision statistics, teen driver and passenger behaviors, graduated driver license laws, cultural changes in today’s society, and the need for stronger parental involvement in a teenager’s driving experience."

Lassig provided chilling statistics about teen drivers and the need to help them learn to eliminate high-risk driving behaviors that can lead to serious injury and/or death.

"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," according to the stats.

These tragedies can be substantially reduced or prevented through education such as the CHP's Start Smart program, which teaches young people about eliminating dangerous driving behaviors, according to Lassig.

To register for the upcoming April 28 Start Smart class, log onto www.Eventbrite.com, search and click on CHP Temecula Start Smart. The class is free and parents are encouraged to attend; seating is limited.

Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For questions, contact Officer Mike Lassig at MLassig@chp.ca.gov