Senate may tighten teen driving policy

BOISE – The same day that five Idaho children died in a teen-driven car, a state Senate committee gave its blessing to a bill to restrict teen drivers.

Among other things, the bill proposed by two Panhandle lawmakers would limit drivers younger than 17 to no more than one unrelated teenage passenger for their first six months of unsupervised driving. Teen drivers are far more likely to be involved in collisions than older drivers, research shows.

“Kids just need more experience and exposure,” said Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, a co-sponsor of the bill.

Tuesday’s crash added a sad urgency to the legislative debate.

The five southern Idaho teenagers were on their way to school when their car veered off an icy Gem County highway and sank in a pond.

The car’s driver, 15-year-old Brooke Probst, had her license less than four months. Her passengers included her 12-year-old brother and three friends, ages 12 to 15.

Senate Bill 1119 would not have prevented Probst from obtaining a license at age 15. But she could not legally have carried more than one unrelated teen in addition to her brother.

Although young Idaho drivers have had fewer serious accidents since the state implemented some restrictions in 2001, research shows further limitations could “substantially enhance that safety factor,” Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, told lawmakers Tuesday.

“Believe it or not, I can still recall my teen days, and probably my worst driving was when I had my buddies in the car with me,” said Hammond, a bill co-sponsor.

In addition to limiting passengers, the bill would require teens with learner’s permits to practice under adult supervision and without committing traffic violations for six months – a two-month increase – before trying for a license. The bill also revokes permits for teens caught with alcohol.

Most states have passed graduated license laws, but many are now considering additional restrictions, said Dave Carlson, spokesman for AAA Idaho. Idaho passed its restrictions in 2000 despite fears they would harm teens needing to help on farms. It took two attempts to pass the initial legislation, Carlson said, but he expects fewer difficulties this year.

A national AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study released this month found 16-year-old drivers are in about 40 percent fewer crashes in states with graduated license programs that contain at least five of seven recommended requirements. They include a minimum age of 16 to receive a learner’s permit; driving supervised for six months before license eligibility; 30 hours of supervised driving practice; and a restriction on passengers.

Idahoans may take a driver training course starting at 14 ½. Then they must complete a four-month instruction period, logging at least 50 hours of driving time – including 10 hours at night – under the supervision of an adult driver.

Teens who violate traffic laws during that time must reapply for a permit and restart the four months.

Teens who meet those requirements and are 15 years old may take the state test to receive a license. Once licensed, they are restricted to daytime driving until age 16.

Before the changes of 2000, teens could get a license with few restrictions.

While the changes have increased safety, Idaho teen drivers are still disproportionately involved in crashes.

Thirty-eight people died in collisions involving teen drivers in 2005, and 377 were seriously injured.

Sponsors of the 2000 bill originally wanted a six-month supervised period, but lawmakers advised against it to ease the legislation’s passage, Carlson said.

Idaho also has one of the lowest minimum ages for beginning drivers, and while Carlson would like to change that, it’s “not as politically viable this year” as the other proposed changes, he said.