LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – 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 2009, there were 61,029 collisions involving teenage drivers statewide, 346 resulted in fatalities.

The Clear Lake Area California Highway Patrol will offer a free Start Smart traffic safety class for teenage drivers and their parents.

The class will run approximately two hours and will be offered on Monday, March 5, at 6 p.m. at the CHP office, Highway 29 and Live Oak in Kelseyville.

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 educational 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 Kory Reynolds at the CHP office, 707-279-0103.