Ohio legislators weigh teen driving law update

By Alan Johnson

Sobering statistics about accidents and fatalities involving young drivers are powering state legislation to boost the age for temporary drivers permits and restrict driving hours and passengers.

House Bill 343, introduced by state Rep. Tom Raga, R-Mason, on Sept. 15, began picking up steam and backers at the Statehouse even before he gave his sponsor testimony on Oct. 5.

“We're trying to keep the central message that increasing the age increases the maturity,” Rep. Raga said in an interview. “If we can get them there safely, an additional six months won’t be that much of a hardship.”

Rep. Raga’s proposal, as introduced to the Ohio House Transportation Committee, is undergoing fine-tuning as he gathers support for the measure. He said he does expect the bill will notbe voted out of committee until after Jan. 1.

It calls for raising the age when a temporary permit can be issued from 15 ½ to 16, would prohibiting drivers under 18 from driving between midnight and 6 a.m. and limits passengers to one family member.

In his testimony, Rep. Raga noted that for 16-year-old drivers the risk of being involved in a fatal crash is three times greater when they drive after 9 p.m.

Risk grows

Similarly, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concluded that “a single passenger nearly doubled the risk of a fatal crash and two or more passengers raised the risk five-fold,” he said.

“Driving is a privilege and with that comes personal responsibility,” Rep. Raga said. “It is important that our young people have the proper time and training to digest all the rules and regulations involved with obtaining a driver's license.”

Ohio's 2004 Traffic Crash Facts Book showed that drivers up to 20 years old were responsible for 16 percent of all crashes and 15 percent of all fatal crashes.

There are 47 states with graduated driver license laws, up from eight states in 1997.
A growing number of groups and organizations, including AAA clubs throughout Ohio, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, the National Safety Council  (Youngstown and Central Ohio chapters), and the Ohio Insurance Institute, are backing Rep. Raga's proposal.

Members agree

In AAA Public Affairs poll of Ohio members last year, 82 percent favored passenger restrictions for teen drivers.

“Members across the state have given us a clear and convincing mandate to support HB 343, especially the teen passenger restriction,” said Brian Newbacher, director of public affairs for AAA East Central.

 “The Ohio Teen Driver Coalition,” led by AAA, will work hard to educate lawmakers, members, parents and teens that this bill will strengthen Ohio's Graduated Drivers License law and save many young lives in the process.”

A new website, ohioteendrivers.org, is under development.

Nationally, the AAA estimates that improving GDL laws could, over a decade, save the lives of 500 drivers 16- and 17-years old and result in 500,000 fewer injuries and 1.5 million fewer crashes.

“We do support graduated drivers license legislation,” said Doug Scoles, Mothers Against Driving Drunk state executive director. “We think young drivers make more mistakes and take more chances.”

Rep. Raga said he has not formally discussed his proposal with Republican legislative leaders, but is hopeful they will be supportive.

“Full hearing” expected

Karen Tabor, spokeswoman for House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, said he hasn't taken an official position yet on the graduated drivers license bill, but thinks Rep. Raga's proposal is “certainly deserving” of full hearings for discussion of the issue.

Rep. Raga is working with Rep. James M. Hoops, R-Napoleon, in the Ohio House and Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester, who will introduce a companion bill in the Ohio Senate.

While there has been no major opposition voiced to the proposal, Rep. Raga said the most vocal challenger is his 14-year-old daughter.

“She appears to be the No. 1 opponent right now.”

“All the feedback we've had from parents has been universally positive,” he added.
Some concerns have been raised by retail employers who fret about problems the bill, if passed, might create in terms of teen workers being able to drive to work.

House Bill 343 highlights

INCREASE the age for obtaining a temporary instruction permit from 15 years, six months to 16. Also, increase the age for a probationary license from 16 to 16 years, six months.

PROHIBIT drivers under 18 from operating a motor vehicle from midnight to 6 a.m.
LIMIT passengers for teen drivers to one non-family member.

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