California Highway Patrol alerts teens of the risks associated with driving distracted

According to California Highway Patrol, distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents. In 2015, 14% of all crashes occurred because of distracted driving.

CHP wants teens to “start smart,” encouraging them to start practicing safe driving skills from the day they get their first permit.

They said teens need to focus on putting the cell phones down when behind the wheel.

High school student, Tyler Onciano, said that he hasn’t always been the best while behind the wheel, but Sunday’s session put things into perspective. “I thought I’d have an advantage because I do play sports, but once I put them on I couldn’t even stand straight. It was pretty hard,” said Onciano.

CHP Officer, Jessica Madueno, let the teens try on the “drunk goggles,” giving them an idea of what it is like to walk while under the influence. She asked them to imagine what it would be like to drive while in the same condition.

Madueno told the teens that driving under these conditions can lead to deadly accidents. She cautioned the kids to always think before getting behind the wheel.

For more information on future Start Smart sessions, visit, www.chp.ca.gov/programs.