May 31, 2001

Bard Touts Results of Teen Driver Reforms

 

HARRISBURG — Montgomery County lawmaker Rep. Ellen M. Bard (R-153) said today that a law enacted in 1999 that places more stringent requirements on teens seeking to become junior driver’s licensees is an example of " lawmaking at its best. "

Bard, a member of the House Transportation Committee and cosponsor of the teen driver reform legislation, said, " The new law clearly is responsible for saving the lives of a significant number of teen drivers. We pushed for the legislation because of one unavoidable fact: highway crashes are the number one cause of death among teens.

" Thanks to the new law, far fewer teens are entering the open road prematurely, without enough experience behind the wheel. With the new law, supervised practice gives teens the basic training they need to drive safely. "

According to PennDOT statistics, there was a dramatic reduction in crashes, injuries and fatalities involving young drivers in 2000:

• Crashes involving 16-year-old drivers were down 27 percent.

• Fatalities from crashes involving 16-year-old drivers were down more than 58 percent.

• Injuries resulting from crashes involving teen drivers dropped 32 percent.

House Bill 10 was signed into law by Gov. Tom Ridge on June 25, 1999. The licensing reforms for junior drivers that went into effect later that year include:

• A minimum six-month learner ’ s permit.
• Fifty hours of adult-supervised behind-the-wheel training.
• Drivers under 18 are prohibited from being on the road from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Previously, the curfew was from midnight to 5 a.m.
• Number of passengers limited to the number of seat belts available.
• Mandatory 90-day license suspension for junior drivers who are convicted of multiple traffic violations or one " high-speed ’’ violation .
• Junior drivers must remain crash-free and conviction-free for 12 months, and must have completed a state-approved driver-education course, to qualify for a full, unrestricted license before the age of 18. Otherwise, they must wait until they ’ re 18 for a regular license.

Bard urged all motorists, especially younger drivers who don ’ t have as much experience behind the wheel, to drive carefully throughout the summer.

• The law is cracking down on speeding by junior licensees. There will be a 90-day mandatory suspension for accumulating 6 points or more or for one conviction for driving 26 miles per hour or more over the speed limit.

• To obtain an unrestricted license at the age of 17½, drivers must remain crash- and conviction-free for 12 months and complete an approved driver’s education course.