Connecticut Governor Rell Releases 20 New Draft Proposals to Overhaul Teen Driving

Governor Asks Public to Comment on Suggested Ideas

March 27, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today released 20 new draft proposals on teen safe driving that aim to further broaden the state’s overhaul of the licensing, regulation, education of young drivers.

The draft proposals from subcommittees of her Task Force on Teen Safe Driving will be reviewed by the full task force with the goal of recommending action to the Governor. Governor Rell is releasing them so that the public can comment about them prior to the task force voting in May on which ones to recommend. The full list of recommendations is attached.

“I am pleased to report the Teen Safe Driving Task Force continues to look at recommendations for curbing the senseless traffic fatalities involving teens,” said Governor Rell. “Frankly, these tragic accidents have sent a clear message that more needs to be done to protect teen drivers by enacting new laws and raising awareness.”

The 20 recommendations offered by the four subcommittees of the Teen Safe Driving Task Force include:

* Developing a standardized, uniform, state-of-the-art drivers’ education program;
* Developing training and education programs for law enforcement;
* Increasing the number of exam questions on the drivers’ test and requiring a higher percentage of correct answers;
* Identifying the learner’s permit as “Junior Operator Permit” and operator’s license prior to age 18 as “Junior Operator’s License”;
* Extending the period of time 16- and 17-year old drivers must hold a learner’s permit before obtaining a “Junior Operator’s License”;
* Creating and implementing a public awareness campaign that includes public education and general deterrence messages, utilizing youth focus groups, appropriate state and national data and other marketing techniques;
* Requiring parents or legal guardians of drivers under age 18 to be promptly notified when law enforcement has issued a citation.

Governor Rell is encouraging parents, teens and others to visit www.ct.gov/teendriving to review the complete list of long-term recommendations offered by the Task Force’s subcommittees. Connecticut residents can submit comments on these recommendations via e-mail to teen.driving@ct.gov

“Our ongoing effort to protect teen drivers must be in partnership with not only the 21-member task force but parents, teens, educators and others from across the state who share the same goals we do when it comes to teen driving,” said Governor Rell, who created the Task Force last November after a series of tragic accidents killed young drivers.

The draft recommendations will be examined by the full Task Force, which can eliminate, modify and combine them into a final report to be given to the Governor in May. The next meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on Teen Safe Driving will take place on Friday, April 4, when the Task Force will begin debate on these proposals.

In February, Governor Rell proposed legislation to create tougher laws that include rolling back curfew times for certain teen drivers, increasing training requirements and implementing stiffer penalties for certain moving violations, including driving under the influence. The Speaker of the House of Representatives has made a commitment to take action on Governor Rell’s Teen Driving bill the week of April 7th.

Earlier this week, Governor Rell announced that she will designate Thursday, April 17, as TALK to Teen Drivers Night in Connecticut – a time for parents and their teens to set aside time to discuss the importance of responsible driving. TALK stands for Teaching Accountability, Laws and Knowledge.

Source: Connecticut Governor

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •