OGDEN — Back-to-school season smells like fresh notebooks, cafeteria pizza and, for some, the faint scent of new car air freshener. That’s because hundreds of Utah teens are hitting the road for the very first time this fall.

Teen drivers make up only 8% of Utah’s licensed drivers, but they’re involved in about 20% of all crashes statewide. The top causes? Speeding, following too closely, failing to yield and — no surprise — cell phone distractions.

For first-time drivers, heading back to school can be intimidating.

“Safety is our top priority; we’re not just about getting the driving hours here at A-1,” said President of A-1 Driving School, Mariann Wilkinson. “We really like to focus on defensive driving and making sure the kids come away with the skills they’re going to need to be saf

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