Nationally, the leading cause of death for teens is traffic collisions caused by reckless and distracted driving.

The California Highway Patrol will help combat that stat with its Distracted Driving Rodeo from 8 a.m.-noon Tuesday, April 8 at the Save Mart Center at Fresno State in parking Lot C (northeast corner).

The free, public event is in observance of California Teen Safe Driving Week April 2-8 and National Distracted Driving Awareness Month during April.

It is co-sponsored by the CHP, California Office of Traffic Safety, Save Mart Center, Bulldogs Sports Properties, Fresno State and Fresno Lexus.

The event theme, “Choices vs. Consequence,” will include volunteer participation in a real-life simulation of distracted driving and the consequences that might follow in an effort to educate young drivers on the importance of driving safety.

Informational booths and representatives from CHP will be on site to provide educational materials and answer any questions.

“This weeklong campaign is designed to educate young drivers of choices behind the wheel that could result in deadly consequences,” said Chief Jim Abrames, California Highway Patrol Central Division chief.

The National Safety Council this April urges drivers to:

  • Stop using cell phones while driving
  • Recognize that hands-free devices offer no safety benefit
  • Understand the dangers of the cognitive distraction to the brain
  • Tell others about the dangers of cell phone distracted driving

Parking at the Save Mart Center is free for this event.

For more information, contact Johnny Fisher at jfisher@chp.ca.gov.

(Copy by Ashlie Day, University Communications news student assistant.)

Related links:

Distracted driving videos: