CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona crosses King Street with Paul Putzulu, HPD deputy police chief, to illustrate a new law requiring cars to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.

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Laws to further
restrict teen drivers

Teenage drivers will face
new age categories in 2006

CORRECTION Sunday, May 29, 2005 » Teenagers that are at least 15 1/2 may apply for a learner's permit. Six months after they obtain a learner's permit, they may take the driver's test for a provisional license. If they have not had any traffic violations or penalties, they will be given a regular driver's license upon reaching the age of 17. A story that appeared on Page A3 on Thursday incorrectly stated that teens will have to wait until 16 to get a learner's permit. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Starting Jan. 9, a teenager will have to wait until his or her 18th birthday to get a nonrestrictive driver's license.

NEW STATE DRIVING LAWS Bills signed into law yesterday by acting Gov. James "Duke" Aiona: » Require motorists to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. Act 73, House Bill 438, HD1, SD2, CD1 » Increase minimum penalties for repeat offenders of traffic violations involving child passenger restraint systems, motor vehicle alarm systems and motor vehicle lights equipment. Act 74, HB 502, HD1, SD2, CD1

A new state law sets up a three-stage licensing process for drivers under 18 and is designed to cut down on teen auto accidents and deaths. Currently, teens can get their driver's licenses at age 16.

Acting Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, who signed the bill yesterday while Gov. Linda Lingle was on a mainland vacation, said young teens "have a lack of judgment about what is risky and what is not risky."

The new law, House Bill 150, adds new categories for getting a license.

Next year, teens will have to wait until 16 to get a learner's permit. They currently can get a permit at 15 1/2. At 16 1/2 they will be allowed to get a provisional license.

This provisional license requires that the teen drive with only one other teenage passenger in the car, unless the person is a household member or unless the teenage driver's parent or guardian is also in the car. Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., the teenager's licensed parent or guardian must be in the car, unless the teen is going or coming from a job or school function and has a signed note from the parent.

Ron Aoki, an instructor with the Hawaii Driving Institute who has taught about 800 teens, said the new law will help. "At 16 they tend not to recognize the inherent risk of driving a car, but at 17 they tend to be more mature and able to make better decisions," Aoki said.

His students, Aoki said, "initially were upset" when they heard about the pending legislation. "The part about not having more than one teenage passenger in the car, that is just something that is there to protect them.

"I said, 'You know for yourself that being a sophomore or freshman in school, you like to fool around a lot with your buddies, but when you get to be a junior you see things more clearly,' and they did agree with that," Aoki said.

Carol McNamee, founder of the Hawaii chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said she has been working to get a provisional license program for nearly a decade.

"There were concerns from the neighbor islands because there is no public transportation, and we heard a lot of comments from people who said they wait for the day until their children can get a license and help with errands and driving siblings to school," McNamee said.

The new program is similar to one already in existence in 40 other states, McNamee said.

"We should see a 25 percent reduction in teen accidents because of this," McNamee added.