Golden State Today

National Teen Driver Safety Week, observed from October 20 to 26, aims to address the significant issue of car crashes being a leading cause of death for teenagers aged 15 to 18 in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2022, there were 2,514 fatalities involving teen drivers. In California alone, young drivers were involved in nearly 12% of all fatal crashes despite representing only 5% of licensed drivers nationwide.

The Goleta Police Department emphasizes the critical role parents and caregivers play in discussing risky driving behaviors with teens. These behaviors include speeding, texting while driving, not wearing seatbelts, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. "We hope that having meaningful conversations with teen drivers about setting rules and being a role model for safe driving can help other teens make better choices when they’re driving," stated the department.

To aid parents and guardians in initiating these important discussions, the Goleta Police Department suggests several strategies:

- Provisional Driver’s License: Understand California's provisional licensing law which restricts passengers and night driving during a driver's first year.

- Lead by example: Conduct practice driving sessions with your teen and demonstrate safe driving habits.

- Set ground rules: Establish firm rules such as no phone use while driving, minimizing distractions from friends, adhering to speed limits, and always using seatbelts. Consider creating a parent-teen driving contract outlining specific guidelines.

- Sober driving: Stress the importance of never driving impaired or riding with someone who has been drinking or using drugs.

Police services for Goleta are provided by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office. This program is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.