California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol is offering a traffic safety program for teenage drivers and their parents. The Start Smart Program is aimed at helping future and newly licensed teenage drivers become aware of the responsibilities that accompany the privilege of being a licensed California driver. The program is designed as an educational tool for parents and teenagers in an effort to reduce the number of teenage injuries and deaths resulting from traffic collisions. Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds. The primary objective of the program is to provide teens and parents with an understanding of how poor choices behind the wheel can affect the lives of numerous people. The Start Smart program also provides teens and parents with information on defensive driving, traffic laws in California, dynamics of traffic collisions, tips on avoiding traffic collisions, and DUI awareness.

Officer Pedeferri, who was critically injured by a driver who was under the influence of drugs, will once again be the guest speaker at this month’s presentation. The collision also killed an innocent party, and left Pedeferri as a paraplegic. “Officer Pedeferri has had a tremendous impact with our presentations, and his participation has only helped to increase the numbers of attendees,” Officer Untalan, PIO for the Ventura Area stated.

Smart Start classes are free of charge. The next class will be on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 6:30 pm. For more details, and to make a reservation, please call Officer Mike Untalan at (805)477-4130.