Student driver stickers alert other motorists to be cautious

QFor the past year or so, I have noticed an increasing number of cars with “Student Driver” stickers on them. A bumper sticker here, a window sign there. These clearly are not on commercial driving school vehicles. Rather, I see them on family cars parked in residential driveways.

What gives? Is there now a law that requires permit-drivers to post that they are students while driving? Or is it a tax break to anyone who puts this on their car?

— John Radanovich,

Los Gatos

ANo tax break. Rather it’s concerned parents who want other drivers to cut their teens some slack when behind the wheel and to be prepared for the unexpected. These signs are a good seller and a good time to bring this up.

In the past 10 years, 610 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in California during the period between Memorial Day and LaborDay.

“Summertime marks an important time for parents to be extra vigilant of their children as they set out to drive,” said Sergio-the-AAAMan. “For every mile driven, new teen drivers, ages 16-17 years old, are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults.” About 72% of teen drivers 16-18 say they have done at least one of the following risky behaviors in the past 30 days:

• Driving 10 mph over the speed limit on a local street (47%).

• Driving 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway (40%).

• Texting while driving (35%).

• Red-light running (32%).

• Aggressive driving (31%).

• Drowsy driving (25%).

• Driving without a seat belt (17%).

QI am very frustrated. I got caught in a Caltrans-created jam last week in which it took an hour on Highway 17 to go from Highway 85 to Los Gatos.

What important work was being done? None as far as I could tell, except for three tree trimmers, who were violating every rule of safety and sanity as they were standing in the raised scoop of a skip loader and trimming a tree. There was also a highway patrol officer sitting in his car in the shade.

Warning signs suggested that this was not an emergency thing, rather that it had been planned. Thousands of people were forced to waste a hot, frustrating hour.

— Karl Auerbach, Santa Cruz

ACaltrans wasn’t just trimming trees. It was completing a shaded fuel break, which means it was creating an escape route, if needed, for thousands of residents and commuters in this wildfire-prone landscape. This is dangerous work and requires lane closings.

Work was suspended for periods of time due to rain, high fire danger and COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders.

It may have cost time now but may save lives later.