Teen driving restrictions

Guest Opinion: Changing teen driving regulations will save lives
LINDA GORMAN Tucson Citizen

As a society, we have become too complacent about traffic crashes taking the lives of those we love. On Tuesday, however, an important milestone was reached that will go a step toward saving those lives we value so much. On that day, the House voted 50-7 to pass the Teenage Driver Safety Act, HB 2033.

The bill is now being considered by the governor and, if signed into law, would take effect July 1, 2008. Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for teens nationwide and in Arizona. Not drugs. Not alcohol. Not violence or suicides. Car crashes. Crash rates for teenage drivers are as many as four times higher than for adult drivers.

This is an issue that affects not only teenagers, but also everyone else on the road. A first-of-its-kind study released last year by AAA reported that 3 out of 4 fatalities involving Arizona teen drivers are the teen driver's passengers, another driver, another driver's passengers, pedestrians or others.

The statistics are alarming: In Arizona from 1995 to 2005, more than 700 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers. As tragic as this is, it's even more tragic to know that many of these deaths were preventable. A large and growing body of research supports such restrictions on new teen drivers.

For instance, research has shown that the crash risks for teenage drivers increases exponentially with each additional passenger in the vehicle. With three or more passengers, the crash risk for teenage drivers is about four times greater than when driving alone. In addition, states with nighttime driving restrictions show crash reductions of up to 60 percent during those restricted hours.

Furthermore, states that have adopted intermediate licensing programs for new teen drivers have seen reductions in teen-related incidents by as much as 30 percent. And late last year, AAA released the results of an opinion poll that showed 3 out of 4 Arizona residents want stronger teen driving laws. This is why AAA Arizona led a broad coalition in the goal of strengthening teenage driving laws.

With the enactment of the legislation, Arizona is joining 45 other states that have established intermediate programs for new teen drivers. Under the law, new teen drivers in the first six months of their driver's license will have restricted nighttime driving, limits on teen passengers and more hours of instructional driving before an unrestricted license can be obtained.

The legislation is a balanced approach to traffic safety with the nighttime driving restrictions providing reasonable exemptions for employment, school and religious activities and family emergencies.

Likewise, the passenger limitations do not apply to siblings. The legislation enjoyed the support of three key sponsors, Sens. Barbara Leff, R-Paradise Valley, and Ron Gould , R-Lake Havasu City, and House Majority Whip John McComish, R-Phoenix.

The legislation received bipartisan support with a 21-6 vote in the Senate and 50-7 vote in the House. AAA Arizona wants to thank the legislators, organizations and agencies that worked so tirelessly in support of this bill. About the author: Linda Gorman is the public affairs manager of AAA Arizona