The Sacramento Police Department has partnered with the Sacramento Fire Department in support of National Teen Driver Safety Week.

National Teen Driver Safety Week is October 16 - 22, 2011 and is meant to raise awareness and address the issue of unnecessary teen deaths on the road.  This year the theme is supporting parents in teaching their teens to drive safely. According to Teen Driver Source, teens whose parents set rules and monitor their driving in a helpful, supportive way reduce their risk of being involved in a collision by 50 % and are twice as likely to buckle up, compared to teens with less involved parents. 

The Sacramento Police and Fire Departments have partnered to bring a driver training course to the general public called "Drive Safe Sacramento."  This hands-on driving program is committed to teaching the driving skills necessary to become a safe, defensive driver. Students will be trained in emergency braking, backing, parallel parking, accident avoidance, and skid recovery. This course is not limited to young or new drivers, but available to anyone whom may benefit from additional driver's training. All classes are instructed by expert driving personnel from the Police and Fire Departments. 

"Drive Safe Sacramento" is holding classes on the following dates this year: October 22, November 12, and December 10. Each class consists of 8 students who will be given 2 hours of classroom lecture covering laws and rules of the road with video illustrations, and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training. The classes are held at 3905 Alert Road, Mather, California. Through this program, we hope to offer skills to drivers that will make for safer roads in our community.

For more information please contact Sgt. Keith Burgoon at (916) 228-3858, or contact us on the web at DriveSafeSacramento@pd.cityofsacramento.org.