Senate Bill 221 will greatly improve safety for Ohio’s drivers

January 31, 2006

Testimony of Brian Newbacher
Director of Public Affairs
AAA East Central

Chairman Armbruster, members of the Committee, my name is Brian Newbacher. I am director of public affairs for AAA East Central and I am here at the request of the Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs, which represents 2.5 million Ohio AAA members.

Before I begin, I would also like to acknowledge the presence today of the Columbus Division of Police in uniform in the back of the room. Thank you for being here to support the Ohio Teen Driver Coalition.

If you didn't already know that traffic crashes are the No. 1 killer of teen-agers in America, you're not alone. In a national survey conducted by AAA, only 22 percent identified traffic crashes as the greatest threat to teens. In fact, traffic crashes account for 40 percent of all deaths among 15-20 year olds, making them the leading cause of death for this age group; more than suicide or drugs. 

We applaud the General Assembly for its early efforts to make teen driving safer with the passage of Ohio’s original graduated licensing legislation.

However, eight years ago, Ohio’s GDL did not include restrictions for passengers. Ohio’s law also changed the age for a learner’s permit from 16 to 15 ½.

As you consider the merits of Senate Bill  221, which moves the age for a learner’s permit back to age 16, lengthens the night-time driving curfew by two hours and adds a passenger restriction, I respectfully urge you to remember that crashes involving teen drivers affect more than the teen drivers themselves.

In fact, nearly two of every three people killed in teen driver crashes are people other than the teen driver (according to the AAA Traffic Safety Foundation, which released its analysis about two weeks ago).

Here in Ohio, 1,173 lives were lost in crashes involving young novice drivers from 1995 to 2004.  

Of these, 428 were drivers between 15 and 17 years old, 386 were their passengers, 289 were occupants of other vehicles and 70 were non-motorists. (64 percent in crashes were other than the teen driver)

Teen drivers also present a danger to others on the road—someone’s mother driving in an oncoming vehicle, a child riding a bike, or a grandparent out for an evening walk.

Approximately 70 percent of Ohio’s fatalities happened on rural roads. Concern may be expressed by some parents in smaller communities that passenger restrictions associated with graduated licensing may prove to be a burden.

To alleviate these concerns, I would like to point out a study conducted in North Carolina, which does have passenger restrictions and a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. In the study, parents (in both rural and urban counties) indicated they “don’t find the additional time required of them to be a (particularly) large intrusion.” 

About 96 percent of parents in rural and urban counties alike said they approve of North Carolina’s (graduated licensing) system. [Among 15-17 year-olds there, about 80 percent (in both urban and rural counties) voiced their approval.] 

But more importantly, the results tell the tale. Evaluations of North Carolina’s (GDL) system show the benefits to teenagers in all areas of the state.  Crashes involving 16-year-old drivers declined by 25 percent in urban counties and by 30 percent in rural ones (comparing 1999 to 1997).

AAA urges you to recognize that teen probationary drivers face much greater dangers with other teens in the car.  

Teenage passengers create distractions for drivers who are inexperienced and who need to focus their attention to the road.

The age group most affected by licensing policies — 16 year-olds — has by far the highest crash risk of drivers of any age. Nationally, the crash risk per mile driven by 16 year-olds is nearly three times that of 18-19 year-olds and 10 times the risk of drivers ages 30-59.

The crash type most often associated with teenage drivers, especially 16 year-olds, is the single-vehicle, run-off-the-road collision involving speeding and multiple teen passengers —the very type of crash often caused by immaturity and poor decision-making.

For a teen driver, the presence of even one passenger almost doubles the crash risk of driving alone. With two or more passengers, the risk spikes to five times (according to research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

Passenger restrictions can involve some inconvenience for parents. Still, surveys of parents and teens show strong support for passenger restrictions where they are in effect.

For example, California’s graduated licensing law went into effect in 1998 and was the first to include a meaningful passenger restriction. No passengers younger than 20 are allowed in the vehicle during the first 6 months unless an adult 25 or older is present. (84 percent of parents surveyed favored this provision – IIHS survey)

Passenger restrictions in California have been well tolerated … only 8 percent of parents surveyed there said inconveniences were frequent or major. (The number of teenage passengers of 16-year-old drivers decreased by about 25% in the first three years after California’s passenger restriction became effective.) (Journal of Safety Research, 36, 2005, pp 1-14)

If you’re uncertain about how your constituents will feel about this bill I can tell you with great confidence that AAA members overwhelmingly understand the importance of passing this legislation.

In a recent survey conducted by the Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs, 81 percent favored passenger restrictions for probationary license holders.

I can also tell you that GDL laws in 33 other states include passenger restrictions.  (Requirements vary as to whether this restriction applies to all passengers or to teenagers only; the number of passengers; and whether family members are exempt.) 

Twenty eight of these states have the same restriction (no more than one passenger) that Senator Cates and Representative Raga propose (HI, IL, MT, NH, NJ, NC, OK, RI, TN, TX, VA, WI, WY to name some). 

This bill also increases the length of the probationary license from 12 to 18 months. This is a key provision because it decreases a teenage driver’s exposure to risky driving situations.

Mr. Chairman, committee members, please take this golden opportunity to make driving safer for our teens and for all Ohioans who share the road with them.

AAA supports all of the provisions in Senate Bill 221 as written. As a member of the Ohio Teen Driver Coalition, I urge you to vote in favor of this legislation. Thank you.