Posted on: Monday, May 24, 2004

ISLAND VOICES
Why the delay to save lives?

By Connie Abram
Executive director of MADD-Hawai'i

One of the best ways to increase the safety of everyone on the road is to start at the beginning: when young people are learning to drive.

Graduated licensing is designed to provide a more protective learning environment for novice drivers. The program requires young drivers to demonstrate responsible and skillful driving behavior through two phases of licensing (learner's permit and intermediate or provisional license) before graduating to the third full license phase. The full license can be obtained at age 17.

Passage of the three-tier driver's license plan for teenagers was a top priority for Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Hawai'i this year. While lawmakers this session appeared ready to pass a graduated license program, the final gavel fell on the session without the passage of this life-saving legislation.

The graduated licensing bills had support this year from safety groups, the local chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the state Transportation, Health and Education departments, and the Honolulu Police Department. Both the House and the Senate approved a version of the licensing plan, making the measure's last-minute death extremely disappointing. We could not agree more with The Honolulu Advertiser's May 3 editorial, "Enough with these all-or-nothing bills."

At least 40 other states have adopted a similar program to that proposed for Hawai'i, and studies show a decline in the number of crashes involving 16-year-old drivers where graduated licenses have been put in place. National statistics show that one-third of all fatal crashes involving teens take place between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., even though only 15 percent of the miles driven by teens occur in those hours.

The leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds is traffic crashes; more than 4,900 died in 2000. Teens' lack of experience and their tendency to take risks contribute to this high fatality rate. Driver error accounts for a majority of fatal crashes for 16-year-olds.

The three-tiered graduated licensing system is recommended by safety advocates nationwide. The core components are: a learner's phase of at least six months; an intermediate license phase of at least six months that requires supervised late-night driving and certain passenger restrictions; and full licensure. Drivers must remain free of traffic violations during the provisional license phase or have their license suspended.

The nighttime driving restriction is a key element, according to safety advocates. Night driving is difficult for all drivers; more fatal crashes occur at night. The risk for teen drivers at night is even higher. Forty-one percent of teenage motor vehicle deaths in 1999 occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Many states impose a restriction on the number of passengers that teens can have in the vehicle during the intermediate phase. One of the reasons for these restrictions is that teen passengers can distract teen drivers.

I commend all who supported passage of the Hawai'i bills, and we ask for you to renew your support as Mothers Against Drunk Driving continues its efforts to fight for the program. Now, more than ever, this measure is of grave importance. We are sorry that the state has to wait another year to benefit from this valuable method of saving young lives.