Are teenage drivers more at risk and more dangerous to other drivers than ever?
by Bill Z, from Two for the Road USA radio show.
www.tftrusa.com
We all know that teenagers are some of the most dangerous, and at risk drivers on the road, and in an effort to combat those dangers, a Senate Panel in Arizona approved a 6 month curfew and passenger restrictions. Teen drivers would have restrictions on when they could drive and how many passengers they could carry under a bill that won easy passage in its first outing in the Arizona State Senate. Instead of giving teens carte blanche when they get their driver's license, they would face an overnight curfew on driving. According to an article in the Arizona Republic by Mary Jo Pitzl, they would also be limited to one passenger under the age of 18, unless those passengers are brothers or sisters. The Teenage Driver Safety Act has drawn strong support from police and safety groups, who note that Arizona is one of only five states without a "graduated" driver's license for teens.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Barbara Leff, R-Paradise Valley, said the bill is designed to cut down on potentially dangerous distractions that come with a car loaded with teens. Dale Norris, executive director of the Arizona Police Association was quoted as saying, “It makes sense to give the least-experienced drivers a phased-in process for gaining road experience.”
As you would expect, most teenagers are not thrilled with these restrictions, but if you, like I, have seen some of the video of teenagers driving as shown on TV newsmagazines, you know that it’s important to somehow help youngsters gain the maturity and experience needed to drive on today’s highways.
According to Cydney DeModica, Arizona Motor Vehicle Division spokeswoman who is a frequent guest on our radio show, "the real key is to get as much driving experience under a teen's belt as possible before they are turned loose on the roadway with other drivers."
It’s my belief that the combination of less mature teens with access to much more powerful and well built, much easier to drive vehicles that give a false sense of security, are major contributors to the problem.
Let us know what you think, go to; http://www.twofortheroadusa.com/
