Michael Bushnell
Publisher

With teen traffic fatalities on the rise, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department (KCPD) is offering a new driver’s training program to area parents in the hopes of reducing traffic fatality accidents involving teen drivers.

On March 31 and April 1, KCPD’s new Community Engagement Division, along with MoDOT, the Missouri Highway Patrol (MHP) and the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety will be offering three free 90-minute training clinics to area parents to help teach them about Missouri’s graduated driver’s license law and, more importantly, give them the tools necessary to support their new teen driver.

“Inexperience and distracted driving are the leading causes of teen motor vehicle fatalities,” said Sergeant Deb Randol with KCPD’s Accident Investigation Unit. “We’ve created this program to try and educate parents of teen drivers on Missouri’s GDL (Graduated Drivers License) law and the importance of being a positive role model to their teen driver.”

Between 2019 and 2022, Missouri traffic fatalities increased by over 13%. According to statistics provided by the MHP, 597 teens were killed or seriously injured in crashes in 2020 and 49% of teen fatalities (ages 15-19) involved a teen driving too fast for conditions. Of the 219 fatalities for drivers under the age of 20, during the same period, 67% were not wearing seatbelts.

“Proper seat belt use is so important in surviving a crash,” said Officer Sutton Smith of the department’s DARE program. “I was in the Traffic Division for seven years before transitioning to DARE so I’ve seen the effects of why this is needed.”

The First Impact training sessions will be offered in three different locations over a two-day period beginning March 31.

Friday, March 31,
6-7:30 p.m., KCPD South Patrol Division Annex Community Room, 9701 Marion Park Drive (I-49 and Bannister Road)

Saturday, April 1,
9-10:30 a.m., KCPD East Patrol Division Community Room, 2640 Prospect Ave.

Saturday April 1,
1-2:30 p.m., KCPD Regional Police Academy, 6885 NE Pleasant Valley Road.

For more information on the First Impact training program, visit: https://www.firstimpact.missouri.edu or email firstimpact@health.missouri.edu or call 573-884-3463.

To reserve your spot in the program, visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ea5a92ca3fdc16-keeping16#/

For detailed more information and to hear directly from program presenters, listen to this week’s Northeast Newscast Podcast.