LOWER LAKE, Calif. – As part of its continuing effort to reduce the rate of crashes involving young drivers, the California Highway Patrol's Clear Lake Area office will host its next “Start Smart” class on Wednesday, March 11.

The free traffic safety training for newly licensed and teenage drivers and their parents/guardians will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Lower Lake High School Library, located at 9430 Lake St.

The leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 15 to 20 years old is motor vehicle collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the CHP's goal is to reduce the death rate among young drivers 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 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 CHP is committed to mitigating traffic collisions involving young, inexperienced drivers, because they are preventable,” said Lt. Hector Paredes, commander of the CHP's Clear Lake Area office. “Start Smart is an excellent program that promotes safe driving for young new drivers.”

Space is limited for this class. For more information or reservations, call Officer Kory Reynolds at the CHP's Kelseyville office, 707-279-0103.