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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
