Monterey Park: National Teen Driver Safety Week Runs October 18-24, Police Urge Parents to Talk Safety Before Handing Over the Keys
In the city of Monterey Park, in Los Angeles County, California, the police department is marking National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 18-24, by urging parents and guardians to talk with their teens about safe driving habits before handing over the keys. The department says safe driving starts long before anyone gets behind the wheel.
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens aged 15 to 18 in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2,320 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver in 2024. That same year, 496 people were killed in crashes on California roads involving drivers aged 20 or younger.
The department says teens should understand the dangers of speeding, texting while driving, not wearing a seat belt, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Guidance from the California Office of Traffic Safety for parents includes learning the state's provisional licensing rules on passengers and nighttime driving during a teen's first year, practicing together and modeling safe habits, and setting firm rules on phone use, speed limits and seat belts. Teens can also use free California DMV resources, including its driver handbook and Teen Driver Roadmap videos.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Monterey Park 市政中心（资料图）。照片：Nandaro，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The City of Monterey Park Civic Center (file photo). Photo: Nandaro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
