Calaveras County – The California Highway Patrol’s San Andreas unit is planning a series of free “Start Smart” teen driver training classes in April and May in Calaveras County.

Public Information Officer Rebecca Myers announced the series of four free teen driver classes, set for April 6 and 8 and May 3 and 9, with one class each in San Andreas, Murhphys, Jenny Lind and Copperopolis.

Myers said “RSVPs must be made by telephone or in person to the San Andreas CHP office. Space is limited and at least one parent or guardian is required to attend with their teen.”

CHP’s goal is to “reduce the death rate among teenagers” as the result of motor vehicle collisions, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said are the leading cause of death for Americans who are 15-20 years old.

Myers said “to address this alarming trend, the CHP developed a program called Start Smart.” It is “aimed at helping newly licensed and future licensed teenage drivers understand the critical responsibilities of driving and to understand that accidents do happen, but collisions are 100 percent preventable.”

The primary objective of Start Smart is to provide teens and their parent or 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.” ¶ Myers said the “San Andreas CHP cordially invites teenagers and parents and/or guardians to attend a Start Smart class.

The classes are all 6:30 to 9 p.m., with the first set for Wednesday, April 6 at Mark Twain Hospital in San Andreas. The second class is Friday, April 8 at Murphys Fire Department. The third class is Tuesday, May 3 at Jenny Lind Fire Department, and the fourth class is Monday, May 9 at Copperopolis Fire Department.

For more information or to make reservations, call (209) 754-3541.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.