Parents are the key to safe driving for teens

ROSEVILLE - We're in the middle of National Teen Driver Safety Week, and this year's theme is "Reducing Driving Distractions."

It's a cause that is near and dear to News10's Great Hang Up campaign. That's why we had a booth at Impact Teen Drivers' Teen/Parent Driving Safety Fair.

At Roseville's All American Speedway, California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow told the teenage crowd, "If you die premature in this world before your time, the chances are it'll be because of an automobile collision... and remember that. That's the most important thing you'll learn here today."

The big man on top at the CHP told us it's especially important to send the message to young drivers today.

"This is the generation that grew up on cell phones and grew up on texting," Farrow said. "It's what they do, and what we're trying to illustrate to them is you can't mix that with driving because your attention needs to be fully committed to driving. There are so many things going on simultaneously."

Many teens told us texting and talking on the cell phone is a way of life.

15-year-old Mikayla George said, "24-7, I probably text thousands of times a day."

The habit is one of a few distractions that kills thousands of young people every year behind the wheel. Farrow said he and his officers hate to be the bearer of horrible news by telling a parent his or her child is another victim.

"It's the most difficult thing we do, and I know it impacts all of our officers deeply when they have to do that," said the commissioner.

Farrow told us events like these are a great supplemental tool, learning defensive driving, making a promise like News10's Great Hang Up pledge, but the message must start and continue in the home.

Teen driver Alayjah Brown agreed, "We get lectures all the time. We'll be watching a movie, and she'll be just whispering in our ear, 'You don't want that to happen to you, make sure you're safe.'"

Alayjah's mother, Akeeya Johnson said those "lectures" would maybe one day save her children's lives.

"I just hope I'm doing what I can as a parent to protect her and keep her safe," said Johnson.

Farrow said Johnson is doing exactly what she should.

"We know what the cause is. We know what the antidote is, and the antidote is the parents. It's all about learning and all about teaching."

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