Bill would create 4
stages for new driversYoung people would not earn
full driving privileges until age 18
Hawaii would join 38 other states and the District of Columbia by requiring young drivers to work their way up to a full-fledged driver's license, under a bill moving at the Legislature.
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& Hawaii Revised StatutesThe Senate Judiciary Committee heard strong support for the bill during a hearing yesterday as advocates said Hawaii would see a substantial drop in accidents involving younger drivers -- matching the experience in other states that have adopted a graduated license.
Among other things, the graduated license for those under the age of 18 would bar them from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian. The exception would be for getting to or from work or a school function.
The bill calls for a four-stage system for licensing new drivers: a 180-day instruction permit, a provisional license for at least six months or until the driver reaches 17, a four-year license upon reaching 17 and a full license good for six years upon reaching 18.
The measure also would limit the number of passengers in a vehicle driven by anyone under 18.
A similar bill has been approved by the House Transportation Committee and is now before the House Judiciary Committee.
Rep. Joe Souki (D, Waihee-Wailuku), chairman of the Transportation Committee, said yesterday he believes the proposal -- rejected in previous years after concerns about limited transportation alternatives in rural areas of the neighbor islands -- might be passed this year.
Carol McNamee, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii, said young drivers are at higher risk for serious crashes because they lack experience, often drive at night, often do not use seat belts and often have young passengers.
She said that after graduated driver's licenses were adopted in Michigan, there was a 25 percent drop in crashes involving 16-year-olds, and in both North Carolina and Pennsylvania, a 27 percent drop.
Ashleigh Lucio, 15, a student at Moanalua High School and president of MADD-Hawaii Youth In Action, supported the bill, noting that 81 people were killed in traffic accidents on Oahu in 2003, "and within the last two months in 2004, it doesn't seem like we're having such a great year in motor vehicle crashes."
"Young drivers feel invincible, and I think that they need more maturity and more experience in driving and so I support this bill," she said.
