AAA East Central
5700 Brecksville Road
216/606-6700 |
Contact: Brian Newbacher
Director of Public Affairs
216/606-6701 |
AAA commends Gov. Taft for signing bill
HB 343 will save lives by limiting passengers for 16-year-olds
INDEPENDENCE, January 4, 2007 – The fatal crash risk for teens
will be reduced in Ohio now that Gov. Bob Taft has signed Substitute
House Bill 343, says AAA East Central.
The new law, signed by Gov. Bob Taft in Columbus today, will limit the
number of passengers in a teen-driven vehicle to no more than one passenger.
Exceptions are made for family members and emergency situations.
The law also will extend the night-time driving restriction to midnight
to 6 a.m. for drivers under 17. It also will require children in the
backseat between the ages of 4 and 15 to be buckled or in an approved
child passenger safety seat.
“Ohio is now one of 36 states to include a passenger limit with
its graduated driver licensing system,” said Brian Newbacher,
director of public affairs for AAA East Central. “It will be primarily
up to parents to make sure their teen complies with the law. While it
may present temporary inconveniences, motorists in other states have
found passenger limits to be well tolerated.”
In Ohio, 1,173 lives were lost in crashes involving young novice drivers
from 1995-2004; of which, 428 were drivers 15-17 years old, 386 were
their passengers, 289 were occupants of vehicles operated by drivers
at least 18 years of age, and 70 were non-motorists.
“The tragedy of teen driver crashes, according to new research
by AAA, NHTSA and the Insurance institute for Highway Safety, will be
reduced as a result of this law. There will be fewer opportunities for
risk-taking and showing off in vehicles driven by new licensees,”
added Newbacher.
With car crashes being the leading cause of death for teenagers, AAA
set an ambitious goal in 1997 to pass GDL laws in all 50 states and
the District of Columbia.
AAA’s legislative efforts have helped save lives by requiring
teens to get more supervised behind-the-wheel driving experience and
phased-in driving privileges during low-risk times until a full license
is granted.
Ohio’s GDL laws are now more comprehensive. AAA, in cooperation
with the Ohio Teen Driver Coalition, focused on strengthening Ohio’s
GDL law through Sub HB 343, sponsored by former Rep. Tom Raga, and championed
by Senator Gary Cates.
The new law will require the following:
- Adds a passenger limit (no more than one non-family member) for
16-year-olds;
- Extends the night-time driving limitation to midnight to 6 a.m.
for 16-year-olds
- Requires children between 4 and 15 years of age to be restrained
in either an approved child restraint system or in a seat belt.
The Ohio Teen Driver Coalition includes the family of Ray and Debbie
Sanderbeck, Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety; Akron Children’s
Hospital; Association of Ohio Health Commissioners; Caring Ladies Increasing
Community Knowledge (CLICK); Columbus Children’s Hospital; DaimlerChrysler
Corporation; Ohio Children’s Hospital Association; the National
Safety Council, Central Ohio and Youngstown Chapters; Mothers Against
Drunk Driving (MADD), Ohio Chapter; Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs; the
Ohio Department of Public Safety; the Ohio Insurance Institute; Ohio
State Highway Patrol; Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
of Cleveland; Think First Injury Prevention; Police Officer’s
Safety Council of Summit County, and the Tri-State Trauma Coalition.
