Safe teen driving bill garners widespread support

By Staff Writer

The number one killer of American youths is motor vehicle accidents. Over the last five years, more than 40,000 teens have died in car crashes while hundreds of thousands more have suffered life-altering injuries.

As a result, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are considering the Safe Teen and Notice Driver Uniform Protection (STAND UP) Act. A host of parents, teens, safety advocates and business executives convened in Washington, DC recently to voice their support for the bill, which is expected to be introduced in the House and Senate this week.

STAND UP, if approved, would require every state to implement comprehensive graduated driver licensing laws for new teen drivers. These policies would place more restrictions on adolescent nighttime driving, the number of passengers young drivers could carry as well as strict penalties for cell phone usage while operating a vehicle.

A top-ranking official with the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety said that teen car crashes cost taxpayers more than $30 billion per year, which is enough to cover the four-year tuition payments for more than a million teens.

Problem teens who use their cell phones while driving or exhibit other unhealthy behaviors behind the wheel may benefit from tough love. Parents could consider reducing their driving time or even taking away their keys.