Proposed STANDUP Federal Act Driving to Save Lives

Sandy Grinnell — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:22:39 GMT

Just as high school prom season is about to start, the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act and the SafeRoads4Teens campaign were announced in Washington DC yesterday. U.S. Senator Chris Dodd and U.S. Representatives Tim Bishop and Michael Castle were chief sponsors of the bill which will push states to adopt the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. The importance of the bill was emphasized with the display of two vehicles that had been totalled in a car crash where teenagers were killed.

The main focus of this campaign and proposed federal act is to save the lives of our teenagers. Auto accident-related death is the number one killer of young people between the ages of 15 and 20. On average, 10 teenagers are killed in car crashes, either as drivers or passengers, each and every day in the U.S.

Statistics have proven that the Graduated Driving License (GDL) for new drivers saves lives. The proposed STANDUP federal act would establish the following minimum requirements for states' GDL programs:

• A 3-stage licensing process (learner’s permit and intermediate stage before unrestricted driver’s license);

• A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages;

• A passenger restriction during the learner’s permit and intermediate stage (no more than 1 non-familial passenger under the age of 21 unless a licensed driver over 21 years of age is in the vehicle);

• A prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones and other communication devices, including text messaging, during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages;

• Age 16 for issuance of learner’s permit and full licensure at age 18;

• Any other requirement adopted by the Secretary of Transportation, including learner’s permit holding period at least 6 months; intermediate stage at least 6 months; at least 30 hours behind-the-wheel, supervised driving by licensed driver 21 years of age or older; automatic delay of full licensure if permit holder commits an offense, such as DWI, misrepresentation of true age, reckless driving, unbelted driving, speeding, or other violations as determined by the Secretary.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Florida Launches New Website Aimed at Teen Drivers - Is Your High School Aware of It?

Sandy Grinnell — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:34:00 GMT

Earlier this month the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) launched its new website, TakeTheWheel.net , developed by teens for teens. The website challenges teenage drivers to take charge when they are behind the wheel and not let outside influences effect they way they drive.

"Learning good driving habits from the beginning is essential," said Director of the Florida Highway Patorl, Colonel John Czernis. "It is up to parents, teachers, law enforcement officers and other teens to stress to new drivers that with the privilege of driving comes a great amount of responsibility."

The very first page has the following message:

Every 55 seconds a teenager is injured in a car crash
Every 6.5 minutes a teenager is killed in a car crash

The website also offers teens tips on safe driving habits, testimonials from other teens on the consequences of auto accidents, and a road rules driving quiz, as well as a host of other information. It also gives teens a place to post their own driving experiences, either in video or text format.

What's a little disappointing is that I had heard nothing about the new site until I was researching Teenage Driving Safety Week. Have you heard about the website from your local newspaper, your teenager or through the local high school? If not, I think they are missing a chance to promote teenage safe driving through a medium with which they are so familiar.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer - Safe Teen Driving

Proposed STANDUP Federal Act Driving to Save Lives

Florida Launches New Website Aimed at Teen Drivers - Is Your High School Aware of It?