The epidemic of teen driver crashes is a major public health and safety crisis. Every year, over 5,600 people are killed, and tens of thousands more are seriously injured, in the United States in crashes involving teen drivers ... more than 90,000 deaths since 1999. However, we know how to dramatically reduce teen crashes and prevent deaths and injuries.
Research has shown the benefits of licensing laws that gradually introduce new teen drivers to the responsibility and skills of operating a motor vehicle. We know which laws work to reduce crashes and save lives. However, state teen driving laws - often referred to as Graduated Driver Licensing programs, or GDL - still vary widely in strength and effectiveness from state to state. A national law is needed to close gaps in state laws and encourage states to upgrade weak GDL laws.
Federal legislation, S. 528 and H.R. 1515, the Safe Teen And Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act, has been introduced to ensure that every teen in every state is protected by an effective GDL law. The legislation is based on extensive research showing the success of GDL laws, as well as recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The bill establishes minimum requirements for state GDL laws, rewards action with incentive grant funds, and - after 3 years - imposes a reasonable sanction or financial penalty to encourage states to meet those requirements. This approach is similar to the one Congress used to encourage all 50 states to adopt a Minimum 21 Drinking Age and the Zero Tolerance BAC law to combat underage drinking and driving. Both laws are credited with saving more than 25,000 lives since their adoption. When Congress enacted federal legislation using this approach every state acted by the deadline and no state lost a single dollar of federal highway funds. The STANDUP Act has the potential to save thousands of lives and it is time for Congress to act.
S. 528 was introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on March 9, 2011; a companion bill, H.R. 1515, was introduced by Representative Tim Bishop (D-NY) on April 13, 2011. This bill is supported by the Saferoads4Teens Coalition, a coalition of more than 150 national and local groups representing teens and parents, consumer, health, safety, and medical organizations, law enforcement as well as business leaders in the insurance and auto industries. We need your help and support, too!
Please use the form to the right to contact your member of Congress about the STANDUP Act today.
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