Personal Injury Law

NY Accident Lawyer (and Father of 3 Teens!) Applauds Proposed Federal Legislation

By Jim Reed

My three teens are going to kill me, but I am strongly in favor of proposed new legislation by NY Senator Gillibrand. It would create a federal law to require all 50 states to implement a Graduated Drivers License program, phasing in unlimited drivers licenses.

Having handled countless NY and PA car crash cases involving teen drivers, I know first-hand the dangers of teen drivers.

Teens are incredibly smart and many handle extensive responsibilities. The fact remains, however, that they are involved in a disproportionately high number of accidents. Inexperience and distractions play a role in many of those accidents. I strongly favor any new legislation which restricts dangerous teen driving.

Sen. Gillibrand’s office compiled the Sen. Gillibrand STAND UP Act Report, with statistics on teen drivers in New York state, county by county.

According to the report, in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region, there are more than 20,000 16 and 17-year-old drivers.
The Evening Tribune in Hornell printed the story “Senator wants national standard for teen drivers” which included these details about the bill:

“The STAND UP act would set minimum requirements for states, including:

• A three-stage licensing process, from learner?s permit to intermediate stage to full, non-restricted drivers license.
• Prohibited night driving during the learner?s permit and intermediate stage.
• Passenger restrictions during learner?s permit and intermediate stage; no more than one non-family member under 21 may travel with a learning teenage driver, unless a licensed driver over 21 is in the vehicle.
• Prohibited non-emergency use of cell phones, including texting, during the learner?s permit and intermediate stages.
• Learner?s permit to be issued at age 16 and non-restricted drivers license issued at age 18.
• Other requirements set by Secretary of Transportation, including learner?s permit holding period and intermediate stage holding period at least six months; at least 30 hours of driving supervised by a licensed driver 21 years old or older; and automatic delay of full licensure if permit-holder commits an offense like speeding, driving without a seatbelt or DWI.”

Also according the the Tribune’s story, Sen. Gillibrand hopes that New York sets an example for other states. I agree that these restrictions on teen driving are a good idea for the safety of our kids.

Thanks for reading,

Jim

_________________________________________
James B. Reed, Esq.
Personal Injury & Malpractice Attorney
Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William St., Elmira, NY 14902
Tel. (607) 733-8866 Fax. (607) 732-6062
Toll Free 1-800-943-3529
mailto:jreed@zifflaw.com http://www.zifflaw.com
E-mail me at FreeReports@zifflaw.com for two free books:
NY Car Accidents and NY Car Insurance Secrets YOU Need to Know.

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Full post as published by New York Injury Law Blog on April 29, 2010 (boomark / email).