AAA Applauds Teen Safe Driving Bill

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pennsylvania AAA Federation, the association of AAA clubs in Pennsylvania, today applauded the state House of Representatives for overwhelmingly passing a bill that would limit the number of teen passengers that a junior license holder could carry. Under House Bill 67, sponsored by both House Transportation Committee Chairmen and the House Speaker, a junior license holder may only carry one passenger under the age of 18. The bill also adds an additional 15 hours of practical driving experience and prohibits the use of cell phones and text messaging by junior drivers while driving.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death among 16 to 19 year olds. “This age group’s fatality rate is four times that of adults,” said Ted Leonard, Executive Director of the Federation. “Inexperienced young drivers are prone to peer pressure, inclined to take risks, are increasingly distracted by young passengers, and tempted to multi-task behind the wheel.” Studies have shown that a 16-year old’s chances of dying in a crash increase 39 percent with a single passenger, 86 percent with two passengers and 182 percent with three or more passengers. “It’s not only teen drivers, but their passengers and other drivers on the road who are at risk,” said Leonard.

Although junior driver passenger limits may put more teen drivers on the road, studies have shown that with a reduced number of young passengers, each of those teen drivers is a safer driver. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia enforce some form of junior license holder passenger limit. In a recent poll of AAA members across the Commonwealth, 96 percent favored teen passenger limits.

SOURCE Pennsylvania AAA Federation