To the editor:

Navigating driver's education, instruction permits, and Colorado's Graduated Driver's Licensing laws with your teen can be extremely confusing. However, this intricate process is essential to put your teen driver or soon-to-be teen driver safely in the driver's seat.

Teens face the greatest risk of a motor vehicle crash during the first year of holding their driver's license, which speaks to why Colorado adopted graduated driver's license laws in 1999. Since then, Colorado has seen a 50 percent decrease in motor vehicle fatalities among 15- to 20-year-olds. Graduated driver's license laws assist young drivers in gradually learning necessary skills and gaining experience to become safe drivers. Colorado's laws limit risks posed to teens by restricting the number of passengers, having zero tolerance for impaired driving, banning cellphone use while driving and imposing a curfew for nighttime driving.

Many benefits can result from parents being proactive in this process. Begin working with your teen to find out more about the teen driving process at Additionally, plan to attend a parent of a teen driver class to get all the details and helpful resources. The next free class is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 at Loveland Fire Station 6, 4325 McWhinney Blvd. Please RSVP at or 495-7509.

Nicole Teel

University of Colorado Health

Fort Collins