Whats Going On With Teen Driver Safety? Gordy Pehrson Youth Traffic Safety & Alcohol Coordinator Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety

Teen crashes have predictable & preventable patterns: BASIC DRIVING ERRORS & SPEEDING: Teens are prone to making simple driving errors, often while speeding. NIGHTTIME DRIVING: Teens are twice as likely to crash at night. TO and FROM SCHOOL: Especially after school, usually with other teens in the car. TEEN PASSENGERS: Promotes risk-taking behaviors & increases distractions.

In 2009: Teens made up just 6.7% of the licensed drivers, but 12.1% of the crash-involved drivers. By contrast, drivers age 65+ made up 15.4% of the driving population, but just 7.9% of the crash-involved drivers.

Crashes Involving 16 & 17 Year Old Minnesota Drivers

Since 2004, the % of licensed 16 & 17 year old drivers that were involved in crashes decreased by 2.7%.

Fatal Crashes Involving Teen Drivers (16 – 19) 42 Minnesota All Teen Drivers Teen Passengers Others 50% of those killed were the teen driver or their teen passengers.

As of August 23, Teens (16 to 19) have been killed on Minnesota Roadways. Yearly Totals 2009: : : : : : 76

Vanessas Law An Unlicensed or Provisionally Licensed Teen Driver, that is Revoked from: A crash-related violation, or An alcohol/controlled substance violation – (DWI, Implied Consent, Open Bottle, Not-a-Drop)….. Cannot obtain or regain a license until age 18

Graduated Driver License (GDL) System Allows novice drivers to build experience by limiting their progression toward unrestricted driving privileges. Three stages of licensing: A.Instruction Permit B.Provisional C.Unrestricted Encourages beginners to obtain on-road driving experience under conditions of lower risk, and keep them out of high risk situations. Addresses high risk driving elements in the highest risk period – right after licensure.

Minimum Six-months No At-Fault Crashes No Moving Violations Driver Education No Cell, Text, Internet Practice 50-hours (night) = Minimum Six-months = No At-Fault Crashes = No Moving Violations = Driver Education = No Cell, Text, Internet - Practice 30-hours (10 night) OPTIMAL SYTEMMINNESOTA PERMIT STAGE

- Provisional Until Age 17 - Minimum Age 16 - Prohibited 12 am - 5 am (unless supervised 21+) - ONE Passenger* U-21 for 6-mos (without parent) + 3 Passengers* U-21 for next 6-mos (without parent) = No Cell, Text, Internet PROVISIONAL STAGE * Drivers Siblings Allowed MINNESOTAOPTIMAL SYSTEM Provisional Until Age 18 Minimum Age 16.5 Prohibited 9 pm – 5 am (unless supervised) No passengers U-21 for 6 - mos (unless supervised) No Cell, Text, Internet

- Minimum Age 17 UNRESTRICTED STAGE MINNESOTAOPTIMAL SYSTEM Minimum Age 18

Instruction Permit or Provisional License: Driver may not use a cell-phone, whether hand-held or hands-free, when the vehicle is in operation. Primary Offense = (Probable Cause) Moving Violation = (Driving Record)

Texting, Internet Law, M.S Aug, 08: Its illegal for drivers of all ages to compose, read, or send text messages or access the internet while on the road. Primary Offense = (Probable Cause) Moving Violation = (Driving Record)

Talking on a cell phone leads to a 4X greater chance of crashing – (The same as driving at a.08 blood alcohol level!) Texting leads to an 8X greater chance of crashing –

A 16-year-old driver who adds ONE passenger, increases their risk of death by 39%; by 86% with TWO passengers, by 282% with THREE passengers. (Journal of the American Medical Assoc.)

Not-a-Drop Law M.S. 169A.33 It is illegal for a person under age 21 to operate a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol. This means ANY AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL! Consequences: Loss of Driving Privileges, Fines Re-training Insurance Costs If 0.08 or more, regular DWI laws apply.

Insurance Rates: Male Good Student, Age Chevrolet Cavalier Clean RecordOne TicketDWI Monthly Premium$131.57$148.82$ Month Premium$804.40$907.90$2, Female Good Student, Age Chevrolet Cavalier Clean RecordOne TicketDWI Monthly Premium$87.77$103.12$ Month Premium$541.60$633.70$2,312.80

Why Do These Teen Driving Laws Exist? To provide guidance for parents. To protect our youth, families, friends and others. TO SAVE LIVES!

Some say these teen driving laws are INCONVENIENT This may be true……………………….., but, I CANT THINK OF ANYTHING MORE INCONVENIENT THAN BURYING MY CHILD!

Contact Information: Gordy Pehrson MN. Dept. of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety 444 cedar Street, Suite 150 St. Paul, MN PH: (651) Web Site: