Promotes Graduated License Pgm.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced that provisions of the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STAND UP) Act she authored has reached final Congressional passage as part of the Transportation Reauthorization bill.
The STAND UP Act would set national standards for states to implement Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) programs that prepare teens to be safer, more responsible drivers.
Gillibrand led the effort in the Senate to include this important safety measure in the final version of the bill that has now cleared both chambers of Congress. In March, she took to the Senate floor to urge her colleagues to support this measure, which aims to save more lives of America’s teen drivers.
“I have two young boys at home, and like any parent, their safety and well-being means everything to me,” Gillibrand said. “As parents, we know that the day will come when each of our children will get behind the wheel of a car. As a parent and as a lawmaker, I want to make sure we take every reasonable safety precaution to ensure that our teen drivers are safe and well-prepared for the serious responsibility that comes with getting a license. The nation should follow New York’s lead and establish strong minimum requirements for graduated driver’s licenses in all 50 states. This legislation will give young drivers better education and more experience before they get out on the roads, keeping us all safer and saving lives.” More than 280 New Yorkers died in car accidents involving sixteen and seventeen year old drivers from 2005 to 2009, and more than 46,000 were injured. America’s teenagers overwhelmingly support GDLs, according to polling. In fact, nearly 75 percent of teens approve of a single, comprehensive law that incorporates the key elements of GDL.
As described, GDLs are a proven method for reducing the risk of crashes among new drivers by introducing teens to the driving experience gradually, phasing in full driving privileges over time in lowrisk settings, and learning to eliminate distractions that cause accidents. While every state has some version of a GDL system, the requirements vary widely and are very weak in some states.
For instance, six states allow for learner’s permits to be issued to drivers as young as 14; three states have no regulations on nighttime driving for teen drivers; and one state (South Dakota) allows for a 16 year old to receive an unrestricted license.
The legislation would call on states to establish GDL systems with minimum requirements:
– a three-stage licensing process, from learner’s permit to intermediate state to full, non-restricted drivers licensing;
– restrictions on night driving during intermediate stage;
– passenger restrictions during learner’s permit and intermediate stage (no more than one non-family member under the age of 21 may travel with a learning teenage driver, unless a licensed driver over the age of 21 is in the vehicle);
– prohibited non-emergency use of cell phones and other communi- cation devices, including text messaging during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages;
– intermediate license issued no earlier than age 16 and non-restricted drivers licenses to be issued at age 18; and
– any other requirement set by the Secretary of Transportation, including: learner’s permit holding period of at least six months; intermediate stage of at least six months; at least 30 hours of driving supervised by a licensed driver 21 years old or older; automatic delay of full licensure if permit holder commits an offense, such as a DWI, misrepresentation of age, reckless driving, driving without a seatbelt, speeding, or other violations determined by the Transportation secretary.
Currently, New York State already meets nearly all of these standards. Under the STAND UP Act, New York State would need to change their current regulations to require that an unrestricted license can only be acquired at age 18. Right now, that license can be acquired at age 17 in New York with a completed driver education course.
The STAND UP Act would authorize grants to incentivize states to implement these life-saving laws, making them eligible for additional federal resources to help put new standards in place-from enforcing standards, to training law enforcement, to publishing new educational materials.
The STAND UP Act is supported by a coalition of groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and the National Safety Council.
