This is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and the Susanville Police Department is encouraging parents and caregivers to have open conversations with their teens about the importance of safe driving.
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, and Susanville Public Safety Chief Michael Bengoa-Bollinger and the SPD is committed to raising awareness about the risks and promoting safe driving practices.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 2,514 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2022.
“The department reminds parents and caregivers to discuss the dangers of risky driving behaviors like speeding, texting while driving, or not wearing a seatbelt,” says Bengoa-Bollinger, “Teens should also understand the serious dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
The Susanville Police Department offers the following tips to parents and guardians for starting conversations about safe driving with teens:
- Provisional Driver’s License: Learn about California’s provisional licensing law, which places restrictions on passengers and driving at night during the first year they have a license.
- Lead by example: Have driving sessions with your teen. Tell, but also show, your teen how to drive safely.
- Set ground rules: Be firm on rules such as no phone use, eliminating distractions by friends, always following the speed limit, and always buckling up. Create a parent-teen driving contract to outline specific driving guidelines.
- Sober driving: Emphasize the importance of never driving impaired or riding with someone who has been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
