LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clear Lake Area California Highway Patrol is offering free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for teenage drivers and their parents/guardians.

The class will run approximately two hours and will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the CHP office in Kelseyville, 5700 Live Oak Drive.

The leading cause of death for Americans ages 15 to 20 years old is motor vehicle collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The CHP's goal is to reduce the death rate among teenagers as the result of these collisions.  

The CHP’s “Start Smart” program is aimed at helping newly licensed and future licensed teenage drivers understand the critical responsibilities of driving and to understand that accidents happen, but collisions are 100 percent preventable.  

The program is designed to provide teens and their parents/guardians with an interactive safe driving awareness class which will illustrate how poor choices behind the wheel of a car can affect the lives of numerous people.  

“Start Smart” also focuses on responsibilities of newly licensed drivers, responsibilities of parents/guardians and, collision avoidance techniques.  

The local CHP office wants to make its resources available to parents and teens when they have questions or issues about new driver development. The public also is invited to come down to the office and discuss issues personally.

CHP officials said Start Smart is a valuable program for parents and their newly licensed or soon-to-be-licensed teen.

Space is limited for this class and is the last one to be offered this year in the Lake County area.

For more information or reservations, call Officer Kory Reynolds at the CHP office, 707-279-0103.