|
Gathering Place
Connie Abram |
Why put the brakes
on licensing procedure
that saves young lives?One of the best ways to increase the safety of everyone on the road is to start at the beginning -- when young people are learning to drive. Graduated licensing is designed to provide a more protective learning environment for novice drivers. The program requires young drivers to demonstrate responsible and skillful driving behavior through phases of licensing -- learner's permit and intermediate or provisional license before graduating to the full license phase. The full license can be obtained at age 17.
Passage of this plan was a top priority for Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Hawaii this year at the Legislature. While lawmakers appeared ready to enact a graduated licensing program, the final gavel fell on the session without the passage of this life-saving legislation. A last-minute maneuver to attach the measure to the controversial proposal to install traffic enforcement cameras led to its demise.
The bill had broad support from safety groups, the local chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the state Transportation, Health and Education departments and the Honolulu Police Department. Both the House and Senate approved a version of the licensing plan, making its last-minute death extremely disappointing.
At least 40 other states have adopted a program similar to that proposed for Hawaii. Studies show a decline in the number of crashes involving 16-year-old drivers where graduated licenses have been put in place. National statistics show that one-third of all fatal crashes involving teens take place between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., even though only 15 percent of the miles driven by teens occur during those hours.
The leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds is traffic crashes; more than 4,900 died in 2000. Teens' lack of experience and their tendency to take risks contribute to this high fatality rate. Driver error accounts for the majority of fatal crashes for 16-year-olds.
The three-tiered licensing system is recommended by safety advocates nationwide. The core components are a learner's phase of at least six months; an intermediate license phase of at least six months that requires supervised late-night driving and certain passenger restrictions; and full licensure. Drivers must remain free of traffic violations during the provisional license phase or have their license suspended for a period of time.
The nighttime driving restriction is a key element, according to safety advocates. Night driving is difficult for all drivers; more fatal crashes occur at night. The risk for teen drivers at night is even higher. Forty-one percent of teenage motor vehicle deaths in 1999 occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Many states impose a restriction on the number of passengers that teenagers can have in the vehicle during the intermediate phase. One of the reasons for these restrictions is that teen passengers can distract teen drivers. Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that teenage drivers are at much greater risk of being involved in a fatal crash when teen passengers are present, as opposed to driving alone or with an adult. In 1999, 63 percent of teenage passenger deaths occurred in crashes in which another teenager was driving. Among people of all ages, 20 percent of passenger deaths occurred when a teen was driving.
According to a report by the Highway Safety Research Center, fatal crashes in North Carolina dropped 57 percent since that state enacted a graduated licensing law. When North Carolina's law went into effect in 1997, the state had 52 fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers. In 1999, the number fell to 27. The study also reported that 16-year-olds have had 23 percent fewer total crashes since the law was enacted.
I commend all who supported the Hawaii bills, and we ask you to renew your support as MADD continues its fight for the program. Our state needs this law because of the high number of crashes involving young people every year. In the last 18 months, our newspapers have been filled with tragic stories of highway crashes -- many involving youth. Now, more than ever, this measure is of grave importance. We are sorry that the state has to wait another year to benefit from this valuable method of saving young lives.
Connie Abram is the executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Hawaii.