Young Drivers May Face New Steps For License

Teen drivers in Washington and Idaho may soon find themselves slowed by a national trend.

In recent years, 22 states have adopted graduated licensing programs, where teenagers must pass through three phases to qualify for a regular driver’s license.

The Washington state Legislature currently is considering a graduated driving program and AAA of Idaho is drafting a similar law to send to that state’s Legislature.

The move toward graduated licensing is only logical, especially as everyday travel is complicated by congestion and high-tech gadgetry, said John Harvey, regional traffic safety coordinator for Spokane’s Educational Service District 101.

“Truly, its time has come,” Harvey said.

Currently, a teenager can get a learner’s permit at 15-1/2 if they’re in a driver’s education program, at 15 if they’re not. They can drive away from the motor vehicle office on their 16th birthday if they’ve completed the driver course (four hours on the road, 30 hours in the classroom) and passed the state’s test.

“That violates everything we know about learning,” Harvey said. “After minimal training, we let them go with just a few restrictions. That just doesn’t make sense.”

Harvey points to statistics as proof current laws should change.

Sixteen-year-old drivers have the highest accident rate of all drivers: 35 accidents per 1 million miles of travel. That’s compared to four crashes per 1 million miles traveled by 30- to 59-year-olds.

Teenagers make up only 7 percent of the nation’s drivers but are involved in 14 percent of the fatal crashes.

“Clearly it’s because they haven’t been behind the wheel enough,” said Ed Sharman of the Inland Automobile Association, which is pushing for graduated licensing in Washington. “We look upon it as a health issue.”

The Washington bill keeps young drivers from taking the giant leap from solely supervised driving to total free-wheeling all in one day. In fact, teens wouldn’t drive without some restrictions until age 18.

If passed, the law would take effect July 1, 2001, and add an intermediate license between the learner’s permit and a regular license. A young driver must clear several hurdles before reaching the intermediate phase, including:

Drive with a learner’s permit for at least six months.

Pass a road test and driver education course.

Certify to the state Department of Licensing that the applicant has spent at least 50 hours driving under the supervision of a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old. At least 10 of those hours need to include night driving.

An intermediate license carries with it several restrictions: For the first six months, the driver can’t have any passengers under the age of 21 in the car unless they are immediate family. After the first six months, the licensee can’t have more than three passengers in the car under the age of 21 unless they are family.

The licensee can’t drive between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. except under the following conditions: driving with a parent or guardian, driving between work and home or school and home, or driving from one farm to another.

The driver faces stiff penalties if he or she is convicted of a traffic offense. The first time, the driver’s parent or guardian is notified by the Department of Licensing by mail. The second time, the driver’s license is suspended for six months. The third time, the DOL suspends the license until the driver turns 18.

The driver graduates to a regular license at 18.

While teenagers tend to resist restrictions, they need to remember government makes “all kinds of intrusions into people’s lives to help them survive,” Sharman said.

It’s a small price to pay, Harvey said. “Just ask a parent who’s lost a child.”

Travel tips

They may seem obvious, but a recent AAA press release offered some common-sense tips travelers might keep in mind when they get away from town to clear their heads.

Keep your eyes on your baggage when you’re in an airport. Criminals often work in teams: One distracts you while another lifts your bag.

Don’t put your bags in the front overhead storage racks of an airplane if your seat is in the back. You might not see someone walk off with your bag.

Grab your bags from the claim area immediately. Criminals look for lonely luggage.

Avoid ground-floor hotel rooms. They’re easy targets for thieves.

Choose a hotel with electronic guest-room locks, and deadbolts and peepholes in the door.

Never carry more cash than you can afford to lose.

Keep cash and a copy of travel documents in more than one place. If you lose one, you’re not at a total loss.

Maybe their meter expired

The city of Spokane has moved its Parking Violations Office from City Hall to Municipal Court in the Public Safety Building, 1100 W. Mallon. The telephone number also has changed, to 625-4410. The hours are the same, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hot Spots

Interstate 90 at the Sprague interchange: Depending on weather, west-bound I-90 may be reduced to one lane near the Sprague overpass during the day.

NUMBERS Your ideas What do you think about a phased-in driving program for young drivers? We’d love to hear from parents, teenagers and anybody else with an opinion. Give us a call at (509) 459-5312 or e-mail us at kristinaj@spokesman.com. Please leave your name and telephone number.