Create Teen Driver Safety Panel

Section 1. Legislative declaration. The legislature hereby finds and declares: (a) that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens; (b) the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16 to 19 year olds than among any other age group; and (c) the presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers. The legislature therefore finds and declares that a teen driver safety commission shall be established pursuant to this act.

§ 2. Teen driver safety commission. 1. The commission shall consist of twelve members. Four of the members shall be appointed by the governor, of which one shall be from the department of motor vehicles. Three of the members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate. Three of the members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly. One member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate. One member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. All appointments shall be made within thirty days of the effective date of this act.

2. The commission shall, within twenty days following the appointment of all its members, elect a chairperson from among such members.

3. The commission shall study, examine and review the issue of teen driver safety. In conducting its study, the commission shall:

(a) study and evaluate the availability and effectiveness of driver education and training programs in the state, as well as a selection of

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD03263-01-9

S. 367 2

driver education and training programs offered throughout the United States;

(b) survey and assess the problems of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and aggressive driving among teens;

(c) review the impact of distracting behaviors while driving, including, but not limited to, the use of hands-free electronic communication devices and the manual use of non-standard audio devices;

(d) determine the type of motor vehicle violations that are most often associated with accidents involving teen drivers;

(e) evaluate the role and utilization of defensive driving and accident prevention programs;

(f) determine and analyze any non-standard safety devices that may be available; and

(g) consider any other issues or matters the commission may deem appropriate to fulfill the scope of its charge.

4. Additionally, the commission shall analyze and provide measures that may mitigate the risks associated with the operation of motor vehicles by teen drivers. Such measures shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) requiring the parents of a teen driver to attend all court proceedings and hearings associated with motor vehicle violations charged to such teen driver;

(b) assessing fines or penalties to the parents of a teen driver when they knowingly allow such driver to operate a motor vehicle in violation of a class restriction; and

(c) prohibiting anyone, other than family members or a supervising driver, from riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle operated by a teen driver.

5. The commission shall report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the governor and legislature no later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this act.

§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect until the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law, when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.