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Lawmaker Seeks To Curb Number Of Passengers Riding With Teen Drivers
Putting On The Brakes?
By JENNY DeHUFF, The Bulletin
A state lawmaker seeks to curb the number of passengers who can be in a car with teenage drivers.
Today, the decision goes before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. If passed, the legislation would strengthen the commonwealth’s teen driving law, imposing passenger limits for junior license holders.
“Pennsylvania is one of the few states without passenger restrictions for young drivers,” said American Automobile Association (AAA) Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Cathy Rossi. “Passenger restrictions can significantly cut down on the risk of a crash. Immaturity and inexperience [cause] a tendency to take risks when they drive. Teenagers are apt to be easily distracted behind the wheel and passengers are the greatest distraction.”
State Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-25th, of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, sponsored the bill, which would require additional behind-the-wheel training, including nighttime and inclement weather driving. It would also prohibit junior drivers from using any wireless communication devices while behind the wheel.
According to the National Teen Driver Survey, conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), few teens view their friends as inexperienced drivers and believe that teenage passengers make a lot of difference in their driving safety.
In Pennsylvania, over the past 10 years, there were more than 1,000 fatalities in crashes involving 16 or 17 year olds. Currently, 39 states institute passenger restrictions for teenage drivers, while 18 states have laws banning teens from using cell phones while driving.
The region saw a spike in car crashes involving teenagers in 2007. Bucks County had 13 teen crash deaths in 2007, the most in the five-county region.
Ms. Rossi, who oversees public and government affairs, said getting a driver’s license is not a rite of passage.
“Parents can go beyond the letter of the law, but we really need a strong law in place until [teens] gain the experience behind the wheel,” she said.
AAA data notes teenagers between 16 and 19 are more likely to die in a crash than their parents. Car crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers.
Jenny DeHuff can be reached at jdehuff@thebulletin.us
Today, the decision goes before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. If passed, the legislation would strengthen the commonwealth’s teen driving law, imposing passenger limits for junior license holders.
“Pennsylvania is one of the few states without passenger restrictions for young drivers,” said American Automobile Association (AAA) Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Cathy Rossi. “Passenger restrictions can significantly cut down on the risk of a crash. Immaturity and inexperience [cause] a tendency to take risks when they drive. Teenagers are apt to be easily distracted behind the wheel and passengers are the greatest distraction.”
State Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-25th, of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, sponsored the bill, which would require additional behind-the-wheel training, including nighttime and inclement weather driving. It would also prohibit junior drivers from using any wireless communication devices while behind the wheel.
According to the National Teen Driver Survey, conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), few teens view their friends as inexperienced drivers and believe that teenage passengers make a lot of difference in their driving safety.
In Pennsylvania, over the past 10 years, there were more than 1,000 fatalities in crashes involving 16 or 17 year olds. Currently, 39 states institute passenger restrictions for teenage drivers, while 18 states have laws banning teens from using cell phones while driving.
The region saw a spike in car crashes involving teenagers in 2007. Bucks County had 13 teen crash deaths in 2007, the most in the five-county region.
Ms. Rossi, who oversees public and government affairs, said getting a driver’s license is not a rite of passage.
“Parents can go beyond the letter of the law, but we really need a strong law in place until [teens] gain the experience behind the wheel,” she said.
AAA data notes teenagers between 16 and 19 are more likely to die in a crash than their parents. Car crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers.
Jenny DeHuff can be reached at jdehuff@thebulletin.us
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