LAKE COUNTY – Traffic collisions are the No. 1 killer of teenagers in America. Nationally about 5,000 teens will die in automobile crashes. About 10 percent of those deaths are in California alone. In California in 2007, there were 82,506 collisions involving teenage drivers statewide, 457 resulted in fatalities.

The Clear Lake California Highway Patrol office will offer a free “Start Smart” traffic safety class for teenage drivers and their parents at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4, at the CHP office in Kelseyville. The class will run about two hours.

The program aims to help future and newly-licensed teenage drivers learn the responsibilities that accompany the privilege of being a licensed driver. It is an education tool for parents and teens to reduce the number of teen injuries and deaths resulting from traffic collisions.

The program provides information on defensive driving, state traffic laws, dynamics of traffic collisions, tips on avoiding collisions and DUI awareness.

Space is limited for this class.

For more information or reservations, call Officer Steven Tanguay at the CHP office, 707-279-0103.