SB 119 deserves a green light

In many ways, it's not such a bad idea, imposing stricter guidelines for teen drivers.

The reason why the idea has garnered success in state legislatures is because of the disparity between the number of teens who have licenses and the percentage of accidents in which they are involved. More simply, Idaho's Office of Highway Safety found that drivers 15 to 19 made up 6.8 percent of the state's drivers in 2005. However, that same demographic made up 13.5 percent of all drivers in accidents involving either a fatality or serious injury.

In the nation as a whole, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, with about 1,000 16-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes every year.

According to a 2006 study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 285 people died in Idaho automobile crashes from 1996 to 2004 in which teenage drivers were involved.

The study found that 111 teen drivers age 15 to 17 were killed, along with 106 passengers, 50 occupants of other vehicles, and 17 pedestrians or non-motorists.

It's sobering statistics like these which prompted the state's American Automobile Association to back a law increasing restrictions on young drivers.

The less experience you have behind the wheel, the more restrictions on your license. As you gain in age and experience, the fewer restrictions there are.

SB 119 is coming up for a hearing this week. The bill would increase the time for novice drivers to operate a vehicle with a supervised instruction to at least six months (up from four months). And, unless they are a family member, there could only be one passenger under the age of 17 in the vehicle.

It is hard enough as an adult to remember there are consequences to every action, that when you get behind the wheel, you need to constantly be aware of other drivers, pedestrians, and circumstances. To remember that your hands should be on the wheel, not your cell phone, makeup, report, writing a note or any one of a thousand different things that lead to accidents.

If adults have a hard time remembering, novice drivers have an even harder time putting distractions aside.

? Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.