New Drivers Learn the Dangers of Reckless Driving
“I’m hammered.”
That was one of the last text messages Veronica Aguirre, 17, a Poway High School cheerleader sent to a friend in December 2009. She died later that night when she rolled her car in Escondido.
Her mother, Cindy Aguirre, shares her heartbreak with new teenage drivers to show the dangers of drinking and driving. She hopes to prevent similar tragedies.
Aguirre is a keynote speaker at an upcoming Start Smart class in Poway. The two-hour class details financial and physical consequences of distracted and impaired driving. The classes are offered on a monthly basis in most communities served by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, and they can fill up quickly.
“The Sheriff’s Department is very dedicated to this program. They really want to reach out to young drivers, from permit age to those getting out of high school,” said Deputy Landon Kuhn, who leads the class out of the Poway station. “We’re trying to sock home the point that one accident can impact your life and the lives of others. “
For Sheriff’s Cpl. Todd Murphy, another Poway class instructor, getting the message out to new drivers is critical and even personal.
“The number one cause of death for teenagers is a car crash,” Murphy said. “About three months ago, I took my 15-year-old son to the Start Smart class in Santee and I sat there with him too. I wanted it to be someone else (leading the class) because he hears it from me daily. “
Kuhn said the classes use statistics and real victim stories to reach the students and their parents. In some cases, graphic video and photos are shown to emphasize the reality of car crashes.
To make sure parents and the recent drivers understand new laws, the classes also review the provisional license requirements and the social host ordinance, he said.
Kuhn said the goal is to make the teenagers think twice, slow down and refuse to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In some high school districts, students who want to park on campus are required to complete the class.
Upcoming Start Smart classes:
- In Poway, two upcoming sessions on June 14 and June 18 are full.
- In Imperial Beach, Thursday, June 28 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.at 825 Imperial Beach Blvd., behind City Hall. To register, call (619) 498-2400.
- In Poway, Wednesday, July 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. on at the Poway Sheriff’s Station, 13100 Bowron Road. To register, call (858) 513-2818.
- In San Marcos, Wednesday, July 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Mission Hills High School, 1 Mission Hills Court. To register, call (760) 510-5295.
Seven classes are scheduled for August in Encinitas, Fallbrook, Imperial Beach, Poway, and Vista. To check dates and register, visit here.