The Start Smart Program is an opportunity for new drivers and their parents/guardians to clearly understand their responsibilities when a teen starts to drive.  Taught by trained law enforcement personnel, it creates awareness of possible consequences, both financial and physical, of distracted or impaired driving, and provides applicable information about collision prevention.  The class also clarifies the restrictions of the Provisional License Law and touches on social host ordinances.  The often-graphic videos and daunting statistics provide a powerful reality check that lingers long after the classroom instruction.

Following the two-hour class, each teen is presented a certificate of completion along with a custom-designed key-chain bearing the theme of the Teen Safe Driving Program, which will serve as a reminder each time he or she starts the car.  This is a concerted effort intended to reduce the risks associated with teen driving.  We encourage you to contact your local Sheriff’s Station or Substation below to sign up for a Start Smart class in your area.

• Descripcion del programa en Espanol

Classes Are Currently On Hold 

Alpine Station
Registration Required: 619-659-2608

Fallbrook Substation
Registration Required:  (760) 451-3121

Imperial Beach Substation
Additional Information:  (619) 498-2453

Lemon Grove Substation
Registration Required:  (619) 337-2058

North Coastal Station
RSVP to startsmartdriving@gmail.com

Poway Station
Additional Information:  (858) 513-2818

Ramona Substation
Registration Required:  (760) 787-4000

Rancho San Diego Station
Registration Required:  (619) 660-7090

San Marcos Station
Additional Information:  (760) 744-1050

Santee Station
Additional Information:  (619) 956-4034

Valley Center Substation
Additional Information:  (760) 751-4400

Vista Station
Registration Required:  (760) 940-4551

Class Feedback

"The meeting had a lot of great information and I believe left a positive impression upon my daughter who will be getting her permit soon. I hope more high schools mandate students to take your course in order to gain parking privileges. Truly seeing the effects of distracted and impaired driving in the videos and other presentations does a far better job than any one parent telling their child to ‘drive safe.’"

"Thank you for such a great presentation. I think it really helped reinforce what we’ve been preaching to my daughter. Thanks again and keep up the great community service!"

"Thank you so much for hosting the Smart Start program last night. It was awesome! We all enjoyed it and found it very informative."

"Thanks for the class; that was quite moving for me."

"The impact emotionally was quite apparent. Tissue time… Your guest speaker deserves a lot of thanks."

"I want to thank you and the rest of the team for putting on the Smart Start presentation last night. My daughter (as was I) was very humbled and thoughtful afterwards so I hope it sticks! Please thank the rest of the team for us as well."

"Last night’s class was amazing, scary and so real. My daughter came away from there saying she doesn’t want to drive! I am SOOOO ok with that!!! I told her it is good to be scared, because that means she understands how dangerous a car can be if you are not paying attention. Thank you so much, please let us know when you are having another one, I will encourage more parents to attend with their children."

"Thank you for offering this program to our teens. You were awesome!"

"I know our son walked away from the class taking driving more seriously and has a better understanding of the severe consequences for making bad choices behind the wheel."

"I hope that all East County high schools make this a mandatory class for teen drivers."

"Hopefully the Sheriff’s Department can afford to make educating teen drivers a priority in these tough economic times; it’s very much worth it!"

"Thank you again for your dedication and compassion in keeping our loved ones safe!"

"We have been telling everyone we come across the benefits of the information they would receive from attending this class."

"Thank you again for the opportunity to experience this with my teen driver."

"After seeing the videos and getting this information from the deputy I know that I will be a good driver when I get my license."

"This workshop has taught me how I can teach [my son] so that I can feel more confident about letting him have the car."

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