To promote safe driving and reduce traffic crashes involving teens, Oviedo Police have a new program to help parents know what their kids are doing when the youngsters take the keys to the family car.

Oviedo Police who stop 16 or 17-year old drivers for traffic violations will notify the teen drivers’ parents when they are stopped—whether or not a traffic ticket is issued.  The program is intended to ensure that young drivers do not hide dangerous driving practices and traffic violations from parents.

Each year, more than 3,800 young drivers are killed in traffic crashes across the country.  More than 326,000 young drivers are injured annually.  Tragically, young inexperienced drivers are involved in fatal traffic crashes at over twice the rate of the rest of the population.

From now on, to help reduce these statistics, Oviedo Police consistently will call the parents of 16 and 17-year old drivers about traffic violations by the teens, whether the result is a verbal warning, a written warning or a traffic citation.  When parents are not contacted by telephone a written notice will be mailed.  Mailed notices will include suggestions to parents about setting good driving examples themselves and imposing restrictions on where, when and with whom their teens drive.

Teen Traffic Safety Notifications by Oviedo Police are a courtesy to parents to help them work cooperatively with law enforcement to safeguard their young drivers and stop poor driving practices that ultimately might result in injury or death.  Parents who do not speak directly to an officer the day of the traffic stop, but instead receive the mailed notice, can call the Oviedo Police Department non-emergency number on the notice to request to speak to the officer.

Combined with existing Oviedo Police programs to stop underage alcohol sales, to openly discuss substance abuse and to reduce underage drinking, Teen Traffic Safety Notifications are designed to ensure that parents are aware when their kids’ unsupervised activities are dangerous.

RELEASED BY M. Beaulieu
AUTHORITY Jeffrey Chudnow, Chief of Police