Laws for young drivers: one year later

It has been a year since new teen driving laws went into effect. The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has issued a statement calling the results preliminary, but encouraging, with a big drop in teen driving offenses.

A review of data from the latter part of 2008 shows a significant drop in accident-related fatalities among 16- and 17-year-olds, for drivers and passengers. There were two deaths in that five-month period, compared to 14 in all of 2008 and 17 in 2007.

The changes to driving laws affecting 16- and 17-year-olds were designed to  eliminate some situations that were believed to cause accidents — such as having other teens in the vehicle, which can serve as a distraction, or potentially as a reason for an inexperienced driver to show off by exceeding the speed limit and taking risks.

Tighter curfews were also put into effect; training periods were extended; and stricter penalties for infractions were imposed for young drivers.

The DMV is looking not only at the numbers, but the factors behind accidents to draw meaningful comparisons.

“While this is just the beginning of our analysis of the new laws’ impact in the last year, we are very encouraged by these numbers,� DMV Commissioner Robert Ward said in a press release. “I think these improvements are coming in part because parents, teens, police and others are sending the message that teen safe driving is a priority.�

Statistics for under-18 drivers for Aug. 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009, show:

• A 43-percent drop in speeding convictions (2,777 to 1,585)

• A 34-percent drop in seat belt violation convictions (855 to 564)

• A 51-percent drop in cellphone and driving-while-distracted convictions (293 to 144)

• A 5-percent drop in combined passenger restriction and curfew violation convictions (675 to 643)

• A 22-percent drop in administrative per se driving under the influence license suspensions (107 to 84)

Among the changes to the laws was the requirement that a parent attend a two-hour class with the teenager. At some driving schools, this consists of showing a film of stories of teens killed in accidents. The film is powerful, and made some young drivers question whether they’re ready for the responsibility that comes with a license. At a recent screening, one young lady, who had already failed her driving test more than once, said she just might give up on the idea.

But in rural New England, it is difficult to get around without a car. Some parents have objected to the new laws, saying they were counting on the convenience of not having to pick their child up from school or after-school activities. They said it should be up to them to decide how much freedom their child gets with a vehicle, and that the DMV should ease up on some of the restrictions.