Review shows new rules for teen drivers save lives
The Tennessee Department of Safety reports the new rules, which restrict how and when young drivers can be on the road for the first two years, have resulted in a 38 percent decrease in the number of teen driver deaths.
In 2000, 85 drivers ages 16 and 17 died in the state in traffic accidents. In 2003, that number dropped to 56.
Susan Ferguson of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said the drop in deaths is common among states that implement the rules.
The IIHS, based in Arlington, Va., has been tracking graduated license programs in the United States since 1996 when Florida became the first state to draw restrictions on teen drivers.
Since then, 35 states have adopted graduated licenses for young or inexperienced drivers.
The IIHS rates Tennessee’s graduated license program as among the best in the nation. In Tennessee’s program, new drivers are prohibited from having more than one passenger under 21 in the car, with the exception of siblings.
Teens are still the most likely group of drivers to have accidents even with the restrictions, officials said.
“We still have a lot of teenagers getting into crashes,” said Lt. Christie Phillips, a Tennessee Highway Patrol safety education officer.
The success of the graduated license program is causing some lawmakers to suggest tighter restrictions.
Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, says the worst young drivers need to be governed even more.
A bill sponsored by Dunn would suspend the license of any driver under age 21 who receives eight points in traffic citations, roughly two tickets, during any nine-month period. The suspension would last 90 days and require the offender to attend a driver’s education course.
“This goes more toward the young drivers who are not showing proper responsibility,” Dunn said. “We want to show them how serious this is.”
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On the Net:
Tennessee Department of Safety, http://www.state.tn.us/safety