Graduated Driver Licensing
(1/28/99)
Here's something you won't find very often-- teenagers who are willing to wait a little longer to get their driver's license!
Dozens of students visited capitol hill today to make that point. News Specialist Keith McCord explains.
The students actually want to send a message. Lawmakers are considering several new laws, that would require student drivers to get more training before they get their licenses. The students think that's a good thing!
It looked like a graduation ceremony on the steps of the capitol. These students rallied in support of two bills that call for "Graduated Driver Licensing."
Basically, the laws would require teenagers to complete three steps before getting their traditional license.
- First a "Practice Permit," requiring 30-hours of driving with a parent or guardian
- Then they'd get a "Provisional License"--allowing limited privileges, although no nighttime driving is allowed
- At age 16 and 6 months, students would qualify for a normal license.
Representative Don Bush sponsors the bill. He explains, "What we're finding out is that even with the drivers education program, there's not enough actual experience behind the wheel."
Ironically, all these students agree! Angie Galloway is a 16-year old junior from Bonneville High School in Ogden. She has a regular drivers license; one she wouldn't yet have, under the new law.
She, and the others believe, extra instruction will save lives. "I mean there are people who have died at our school, let alone two people this year in car accidents, and we feel that this bill will help save lives through experience."
National statistics show a high accident rate amoung drivers under the age of 21, and since Utah has a large number of drivers in that category, the new laws are aimed at reducing the number.
The idea of a graduated licensing process isn't new-- 26 states already have similiar laws in effect.
One student said, "This year alone, we've had two young people in our student body die because, because of unexperience, and I don't want to see that happen anymore."
These two bill have a way to go yet--however, the house verison passed today by a unanimous vote. It now goes to the senate for consideration.
