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Thread: New Regulations for Teen Drivers?

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    Unregistered Enough's Avatar
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    New Regulations for Teen Drivers?

    http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/365084.html

    Number of teen fatalities prompts push for stricter regulations on young drivers

    ALBANY — Benjamin Kirsch had just picked up his prom tux, a day after getting his driver’s license, when he lost control of his speeding car and hit a tree. The Holland High School student died at 17.

    Christie Trummer, a sophomore at Salamanca High School, was ejected from a car when her friend, a teen driver, became distracted by a dog in the vehicle and crashed. She died at 15.

    On Staten Island, Michelle Arout was in the back seat of a car driven by her teen boyfriend, who was racing a friend at speeds up to 90 mph. When they collided, the car Arout was in was sliced in two. She died at 17.

    And on Long Island, Saul Lopez and Quinntin McDonald just wanted to grab lunch off school grounds. They died in a crash in a car driven by another teen. Both were 17.

    The stories go on and on, putting faces and names to the sobering statistic that car crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers — accounting for 36 percent of all teenage deaths. In New York State, more than 200 teens die a year in these crashes.

    Albany is taking notice. A series of high-profile car accidents around the state over the past year, including the horrific one in which five Rochester-area girls died last June, has given new life to long-stalled efforts to place more restrictions on teen drivers. Measures are on the table that would increase training of young drivers, limit the number of passengers in a vehicle when a teen is behind the wheel and prohibit electronic devices that distract young drivers.

    “It’s too late for my family, but it’s not too late for the other teenagers out there,” said John Arout, the father of the dead Staten Island girl.

    He has taken up the cause, complete with a Web site, of strengthening teen driving laws.

    For opponents of tougher penalties and restrictions affecting teen drivers, Diane Magle has a message.

    “If they could come and live my life for one day, they could realize the impact that it has on your life. It’s forever. Your life is changed forever,” said Magle, whose daughter Katie, 17, was killed in a 2005 Orchard Park crash involving a teen driver.

    Scenes of cars ripped apart and long lines at wakes and candlelight vigils — routinely played out in newspapers and on TVs across the state — seem to be affecting state lawmakers. Once reluctant to anger parents, especially in upstate and on Long Island, where car is king for many teenagers, a growing number of lawmakers and Gov. David Paterson say New York needs to catch up with other states that have embraced stricter rules for teen drivers.

    “The time is right,” said Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

    Eleven years ago, his then- 16-year-old son was a passenger in a car driven by a teen on a Sunday afternoon. The car hydroplaned and hit another car head-on, killing two elderly women. He also talked of losing his 14-year-old nephew in the crash of a car driven by his teen niece.

    “I’ve lived it in my family. We need to do everything we can,” Libous said.

    Laws are confusing

    New York places far fewer restrictions on teen drivers than do other states.

    New York and New Hampshire are the only states that do not require a minimum holding period, typically six months, between the time a permit is issued and a license granted, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research group.

    Thirty-eight states require more than the 20 hours New York teens with a permit must spend behind the wheel under the supervision of a parent or guardian.

    Eleven states, including Ohio, Illinois, Florida and Massachusetts, have strict nighttime restrictions for teen drivers until they are 18. In New York, night restrictions can be lifted at 17.

    And other states place greater limits on the number of nonfamily passengers in cars when a teen is behind the wheel. Some ban other passengers completely, or at least until the teen has been driving for six months. New York permits up to two nonfamily members in a teen-driven car.

    Studies show a direct connection between crashes and how many kids are in a car. One found that cars with three teens present is three times more likely to be in a fatal crash than a car in which a teen driver is alone.

    New York has one of the most confusing collections of laws for teen drivers and is the only state in the nation that has three sets of rules for teen drivers depending on their addresses: very strict in New York City, less restrictive on Long Island and far looser in upstate.

    Yet 60 percent of crashes involving teens were in upstate in 2005, according to a University at Albany report. Now, even Senate Republicans who crafted the system to purposely make the rules more lax upstate say it needs to be changed.

    Drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 account for 12 percent of drivers in New York, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. But 20 percent of all crashes involve that age group. And in 2006, the most recent year for which records are available, 206 young drivers and their passengers were killed in the state. Speed, distraction, driver inexperience and carrying passengers were the top causes.

    “If we saw these numbers coming back from a war zone, it’d be front-page news day after day,” said Sen. Vincent Leibell, a Putnam County Republican who is pushing for more practice hours for teen permit holders.

    Two recent Buffalo-area accidents are being used in the legislative push.

    Last month’s drag racing crash in Lancaster that killed two people, along with two other high-profile racing accidents downstate, is behind a bill adding new penalties for street racing.

    The death last December of A.J. Larson, 20, who became distracted while text messaging and crashed into a truck in West Seneca, is among the cases fueling a push to ban the devices by drivers. That bill recently passed the Senate and has strong backing in the Assembly.

    A variety of proposals

    And there are other proposals.

    One measure would ban all phones, including hands-free, for teen drivers. Another calls for special stickers on cars that teens are driving, to alert police or other drivers.

    Still another bill requires parents to attend court appearances if their teen commits a traffic violation.

    There is also a bill, aimed at distracted driving, which increases penalties for accidents caused by nondriving activities — from eating a slice of pizza to smoking to using a cell phone — whether hands-free or handheld.

    The Paterson administration has proposed reducing from two to one the number of nonfamily passengers permitted in a car driven by a teen. It also wants to raise to 30 hours, including 10 hours at night, the time a teen practices driving with a parent or guardian.

    Assembly Democrats have introduced the Paterson bill. But other measures go further.

    Both houses embrace the idea of reducing the number of nonfamily passengers in a teen-driven car. Senate Republicans want 50 hours of supervised training.

    There is also an effort to create a study group to devise more comprehensive answers. The sponsor, Sen. Andrew Lanza, a Staten Island Republican, said the study group could examine the different geographic rules for teen drivers and look for ways to expand driver education programs in schools. Critics say New York’s driver education program, run by the state Education Department, has become an afterthought and is in need of takeover by the DMV or some other agency.

    Training is key

    Some parents of teenagers killed in crashes say the state should raise the driving age and put better focus on training.

    “It’s just too young to put a lethal weapon in the hands of someone,” Diane Magle said of giving permits at 16. Her daughter, a Mount Mercy Academy student, was killed in 2005.

    But in a state with limited public transit and whose retailers and others rely on teenagers for after-school jobs, raising the legal age for driving is unlikely. Still, safety experts say there is plenty New York can do.

    New York should require a new driver to hold a permit for at least six months before getting an initial license that restricts his or her driving to traveling to and from school, school activities and jobs, said Anne McCartt, senior vice president of research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

    The state should also reduce the nonfamily passengers allowed in a car and make the age 18 for getting a full license with no restrictions, she said. Currently, the full license can be obtained if a 17-year-old takes a driver’s education course.

    The renewed interest in passing stronger teen laws in New York is not unusual, McCartt said.

    In fact, other states have used the deaths of the five Rochester-area teens last year as impetus to tighten rules.

    “A lot of what you see in highway safety over the last couple decades is the power of personal stories,” she said.

    Besides the pressure of hometown headlines in an election year, legislators are getting pushed to act by the American Automobile Association and other safety groups.

    “Legislators are taking this serious,” said David Swarts, the state’s motor vehicles commissioner. “Given all that interest, there will be action this year.”

    The state also wants to better target parents, Swarts said.

    The DMV is looking at a voluntary system of notifying parents if their child is involved in a traffic incident, he said.

    “We need to do what we can to educate parents on their responsibilities,” he said, noting many don’t know the teen driving laws.

    The DMV has a new division dedicated to reducing teen accidents and researching other ideas, such as ending what Swarts acknowledged is the “confusing” driving rules between upstate and downstate.

    “I think everything is on the table,” he said.

    Efforts to tighten teen driving laws in the past led to fights with upstate lawmakers who didn’t want to anger parents by limiting teen driving rights, said Assemblyman Sandra Galef, a Westchester County Democrat. That is gone this year, she said.

    “Maybe there’s just a sensitivity that we’re losing our teens,” she said.

    A tough year

    A year ago today, Joseph Hoffman was driving his car in the late afternoon near Joseph Davis State Park in Niagara County when it crossed the center lane and he struck another car. The 17-year-old Lewiston- Porter High School student died at the scene.

    It’s been a tough few years for the school. A year earlier, another student, who had been working through the night on a robotics project, fell asleep at the wheel and died in a crash.

    This year, two separate accidents involving four students occurred; no one was killed.

    Assistant Principal John Diodate, who has to deal with these tragedies in hallway talks with students, says legislators should strengthen laws regarding training, passengers and distracting devices. But he acknowledged that not all teens will follow the law and some will not learn from the tragic accidents in which fellow students have died.

    “I think the ones that really want to let it hit home will,” he said.

    Diodate recalled Joseph, who transferred the previous year from Niagara Falls, as likable, polite and responsible. He had dreadlocks, was a skateboarder and a good student, he said.

    “He was a great kid,” Diodate recalled.

    On an internet message board, Joseph’s friends checked in after his death.

    Justin from Niagara Falls wrote, “Joe, you didn’t deserve this. You were a good kid. RIP, man.”

    Reporter Stephen Watson contributed to this story.

    tprecious@buffnews.com
    Any suggestions on how New York State can keep its future taxpayers from killing themselves?

  2. #2
    Member FIRELADY's Avatar
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    I agree that they need stronger laws. I like the idea of a greater time period between when they get their permit till when they get their license. I also think that there should be a law that says they shouldn't be allowed to have people younger than 18 in their car with them. Unless there is a parent or guardian in the car with them. I will not allow my son to ride with his friends who have just gotten their license.

    As the mom of a 15 year old male who is looking forward to driving, I am scared at the prospect of him behind the wheel of a vehicle.

    Being in EMS for many years I have first hand experience as to what can and does happen with these young inexperienced drivers. I do not want my son to become a statistic.
    Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you can do. Attitude determines how well you can do it. - Lou Holtz

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    There are no laws mandating that children have to get their driver's permit at age 16. Parents do not have to allow this. Parents are not obligated to do so. My youngest is 16, this child does not have a driver's permit. I don't feel they are ready yet.
    First Amendment rights are like muscles, if you don't exercise them they will atrophy.

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    Member LaNdReW's Avatar
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    Just what we need

    More Laws. If your children are not ready to drive, don't let them. Teach them what is right, and what is wrong. What is legal, what is not. What is safe, what is not. They make the decision that effects their future. If they are not ready to make this decision, they can stay home or ride a bike.
    "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis (1935)

  5. #5
    Member nickelcityhomes's Avatar
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    Any suggestions on how New York State can keep its future taxpayers from killing themselves?
    Stop taxing and regulating them to death.
    Most of all I like bulldozers and dirt

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    Quote Originally Posted by nickelcityhomes
    Stop taxing and regulating them to death.
    thank you!
    First Amendment rights are like muscles, if you don't exercise them they will atrophy.

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    Anyone who lays down laws for their teens and thinks they actually obey them once they're out of their parent's sight, is only fooling themselves.

    When away from the homestead, teens are very rarely the "angels" their parents see and/or believe them to be.

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    Member Riven37's Avatar
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    Ah

    Raise the driving age to 18 instead of this 16 age. Being 16 served its purpose many years ago. It was a right of passage but in today's world that mind set has no place in our society today. I don't think a kid ought to be driving at 16 yrs old. The kid isn't mature enough even with a parent because we all know some parents are no more maturer than their own child.

    Today, drivers are paying less, and less attentions to our tracfic laws because our police are enforcing less, and less traffic laws each year. Then why give your child a gun to use, and a Car can, and is no different then a gun. Its a dangerous weapon, and in the hands of a teenager its like giving them a loaded gun.

    If I had any power in politics I'd do this:

    Driving at age 20
    Drinking at age 20
    MIlitary at age 20
    Marriage at age 20


    This way they may have a chance to live better lives.
    Riven37
    _________
    All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. Thomas Jefferson

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    Member geo_wny's Avatar
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    Even better is that at age 16 you can ride a race motorcycle that can easly go over 200MPH, there are no restricitons on the size motorcycle you can buy or ride..

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    Quote Originally Posted by geo_wny
    Even better is that at age 16 you can ride a race motorcycle that can easly go over 200MPH, there are no restricitons on the size motorcycle you can buy or ride..

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    The idea that we can simply legislate ourself to safety is laughable. It is not the age, but rather the individual.

    Two examples:

    1) When I was 16 I was a volunteer EMT, when I was 18 I was operating emergency vehicles, with lights and sirens, in busy rush hour conditions. Nobody had any concerns about my age, just that I was able to competently handle my responsibilities.

    Who was I picking up in these car wrecks? People of all ages. People on their cell phones causing wrecks, older drivers getting confused or having bad reactions with their medications, newly arrived immigrants unsure of the rules of the road driving without licenses, soccer moms or commuting businessmen trying to eat/put on makeup/read/whatever while driving.

    But nobody talked about putting driving restrictions on those people. Nobody talked about "cracking down" on an "epidemic" of eating big macs or doing your hair while driving. But under 18/21? Wow, you're just a threat on the road.

    2) My grandpa is almost 85. You would not know it from looking at him, and his doctor has told him he is the healthiest 85 year old he has ever seen. He still drives, and does fine.

    Does anybody actually think that by raising the starting age of driving they will reduce road accidents? An inexperienced 25 year old will be the same as an inexperienced 16 year old.

    The only reason these laws are proposed is that people under 18 cannot vote out the legislators trying to buy themselves another term by selling the illusion of safety to their constituents.

    How about people start taking responsibility for themselves and the actions of their children? If somebody is driving like an idiot by running red lights, passing on the right and almost hitting pedestrians like I see almost every day on the West Side then I do not want them on the road no matter what their age is. How about we crack down on the criminally reckless drivers first before we start restricting people just because they are below the age to vote?

  12. #12
    Unregistered Enough's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Riven37
    Raise the driving age to 18 instead of this 16 age. Being 16 served its purpose many years ago. It was a right of passage but in today's world that mind set has no place in our society today. I don't think a kid ought to be driving at 16 yrs old. The kid isn't mature enough even with a parent because we all know some parents are no more maturer than their own child.

    Today, drivers are paying less, and less attentions to our tracfic laws because our police are enforcing less, and less traffic laws each year. Then why give your child a gun to use, and a Car can, and is no different then a gun. Its a dangerous weapon, and in the hands of a teenager its like giving them a loaded gun.

    If I had any power in politics I'd do this:

    Driving at age 20
    Drinking at age 20
    MIlitary at age 20
    Marriage at age 20


    This way they may have a chance to live better lives.
    One of the complaints is kids and parents don't want the age to increase because kids lose the liberty of getting a job and parents lose the liberty of not having to take kids everywhere they wanna go.

    I think that will influence lawmakers to NOT raise the driving age.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Enough
    One of the complaints is kids and parents don't want the age to increase because kids lose the liberty of getting a job and parents lose the liberty of not having to take kids everywhere they wanna go.

    I think that will influence lawmakers to NOT raise the driving age.
    I would drive them 2 extra years if it meant that they would be alive. I don't want to "coulda' shoulda' woulda'" on my childrens' lives. My heart aches right now at the thought of standing grave side thinking to myself "If only I had waited 2 more years to let her drive."
    First Amendment rights are like muscles, if you don't exercise them they will atrophy.

  14. #14
    Member HipKat's Avatar
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    Illinois just passede law that no one under the age of 18 can have a driver's license.
    I so applaud that.
    Let me articulate this for you:
    "I'm not locked in here with them. They're locked in here with me!!"
    HipKat's Blog

  15. #15
    Member LaNdReW's Avatar
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    Your choice.

    Quote Originally Posted by mesue
    I would drive them 2 extra years if it meant that they would be alive. I don't want to "coulda' shoulda' woulda'" on my childrens' lives. My heart aches right now at the thought of standing grave side thinking to myself "If only I had waited 2 more years to let her drive."
    Then don't!

    If you feel this way, don't let them drive for the 2 extra years... heck, if they live with you, don't let them get it 'till they leave.
    "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." - Sinclair Lewis (1935)

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