Teen driving act to be reintroduced in Congress
In 2009, over 3,400 teens were killed in motor vehicle accidents, which represents 10 percent of all vehicle fatalities. To help address the problem and reduce deaths, a new teen driving act is being reintroduced in Congress after it was stalled last year and supporters are hoping this will be the year it will finally get passed.
The STANDUP Act (Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act) sponsored by Senators Kirsten E. Gillibrand D-NY, Amy Klobuchar D-MN, Representatives Chris Van Hollen D-MD, Rep. Tim Bishop D-NY and others in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate would establish a national minimum requirement for graduated drivers’ license GDL laws.
States that adopt these requirements would receive grants to help with enforcement and education. In order to incentivize states to pass the minimum GDL law, the states that fail to comply in the first three years would lose federal highway funds. A similar approach has been used in the past to push states to pass laws establishing 21 as the legal drinking age, a .08 percent legal blood alcohol level, and a zero tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving. Here are some of the details of the bill:
Three stages of licensing–learners permit, intermediate stage, and full licensure.Age 16 to be the earliest age to get a learners permit. No nighttime driving while unsupervised during the learners permit and intermediate stages, until full licensure at age 18. No driving while using a cell phone. Full licensure should occur no earlier than age 18.A restriction on passengers to no more than one non-family passenger under age 21, unless a licensed driver over age 21 is in the vehicle. This would be in place until full licensure.
Read the rest of the story here: Consumer Reports Cars Blog: Teen driving act to be reintroduced in Congress.