Whats Going On With Teen Driver Safety? Gordy Pehrson Youth Traffic Safety & Alcohol Coordinator Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic.

What’s Going On With Teen Driver Safety?

Gordy Pehrson

Youth Traffic Safety & Alcohol Coordinator

Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety

Teen crashes have predictable & preventable patterns:

• BASIC DRIVING ERRORS & SPEEDING: Teens are prone to making simple driving errors, often while speeding.

• NIGHTTIME DRIVING: Teens are twice as likely to crash at night.

• TO and FROM SCHOOL: Especially after school, usually with other teens in the car.

• TEEN PASSENGERS: Promotes risk-taking behaviors & increases distractions.

In 2009: Teens made up just 6.7% of the

licensed drivers, but 12.1% of the crash-involved drivers.

By contrast, drivers age 65+ made up 15.4% of the driving population, but just 7.9% of the crash-involved drivers.

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Crashes Involving 16 & 17 Year Old Minnesota Drivers

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Since 2004, the % of licensed 16 & 17 year old drivers that were involved in crashes decreased by 2.7%.

Fatal Crashes Involving Teen Drivers (16 – 19)

42

Minnesota 2005 - 2009

42

All Teen Drivers

Teen Passengers

Others

50% of those killed were the teen driver or their teen passengers.

As of August 23, 2010

27 Teens (16 to 19) have been killed on Minnesota Roadways.

Yearly Totals

2009: 35

2008: 31

2007: 41

2006: 65

2005: 63

2004: 76

Vanessa’s Law

An Unlicensed or Provisionally Licensed Teen Driver, that is Revoked from:

A crash-related violation, or An alcohol/controlled substance violation –

(DWI, Implied Consent, Open Bottle, Not-a-Drop)…..

Cannot obtain or regain a license until age 18

Graduated Driver License (GDL) System

Allows novice drivers to build experience by limiting their progression toward unrestricted driving privileges.

• Three stages of licensing:

A. Instruction Permit B. ProvisionalC. Unrestricted

• Encourages beginners to obtain on-road driving experience under conditions of lower risk, and keep them out of high

risk situations.

• Addresses high risk driving elements in the highest risk period – right after licensure.

• Minimum Six-months• No At-Fault Crashes• No Moving Violations• Driver Education• No Cell, Text, Internet • Practice 50-hours (night)

= Minimum Six-months= No At-Fault Crashes = No Moving Violations= Driver Education= No Cell, Text, Internet- Practice 30-hours (10 night)

OPTIMAL SYTEM MINNESOTA

PERMIT STAGE

- Provisional Until Age 17

- Minimum Age 16

- Prohibited 12 am - 5 am (unless supervised 21+)

- ONE Passenger* U-21 for 6-mo’s (without parent)

+ 3 Passengers* U-21 for next 6-mo’s (without

parent)

= No Cell, Text, Internet

PROVISIONAL STAGE

* Driver’s Siblings Allowed

MINNESOTAOPTIMAL SYSTEM• Provisional Until Age 18

• Minimum Age 16.5

• Prohibited 9 pm – 5 am (unless supervised)

• No passengers U-21 for 6 - mo’s (unless

supervised)

• No Cell, Text, Internet

- Minimum Age 17

UNRESTRICTED STAGE

MINNESOTAOPTIMAL SYSTEM

• Minimum Age 18

Instruction Permit or Provisional License:

Driver may not use a cell-phone, whether hand-held or hands-free, when the vehicle is in operation.

Primary Offense = (Probable Cause)

Moving Violation = (Driving Record)

Texting, Internet Law, M.S. 169.475

Aug, 08:

It’s illegal for drivers of all ages to compose, read, or send text messages or

access the internet while on the road.

Primary Offense = (Probable Cause)

Moving Violation = (Driving Record)

Talking on a cell phone leads to a 4X greater chance of crashing –

(The same as driving at a .08 blood alcohol level!)

Texting leads to an 8X greater chance of crashing –

A 16-year-old driver who adds ONE passenger, increases their risk of death by 39%;

• by 86% with TWO passengers,

• by 282% with THREE passengers.

(Journal of the American Medical Assoc.)

Not-a-Drop Law M.S. 169A.33

It is illegal for a person under age 21 to operate a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol.

This means ANY AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL!

Consequences:• Loss of Driving Privileges, Fines• Re-training• Insurance Costs

If 0.08 or more, regular DWI laws apply.

Insurance Rates:

Male Good Student, Age 16 2006 Chevrolet Cavalier

Clean Record One Ticket DWI

Monthly Premium $131.57 $148.82 $484.02

6-Month Premium $804.40 $907.90 $2,919.10

Female Good Student, Age 16 2006 Chevrolet Cavalier

Clean Record One Ticket DWI

Monthly Premium $87.77 $103.12 $382.97

6-Month Premium $541.60 $633.70 $2,312.80

Why Do These Teen Driving Laws Exist?

• To provide guidance for parents.

• To protect our youth, families, friends and others.

• TO SAVE LIVES!

Some say these teen driving laws are “INCONVENIENT”

This may be true………………………..,

but, I CAN’T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE

“INCONVENIENT” THAN BURYING MY CHILD!

Contact Information:

Gordy Pehrson

MN. Dept. of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety

444 cedar Street, Suite 150

St. Paul, MN. 55101-5150

PH: (651) 201-7072

E-mail: [email protected]

Web Site: www.dps.state.mn.us/ots