McManus, Insurance Industry Call for Increased Teen Driver Safety
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
LANSING--At a press conference commemorating National Teen Driver Safety Week Tuesday, legislators and insurance industry representatives highlighted the severity of fatal teen car crashes and urged action to help curb this national epidemic.
State Sen. Michelle McManus organized the event and spoke about Senate Bill 441, which she sponsored to help limit distractions to Michigan's teen drivers.
"Car accidents are the number one killer of teenagers in the United States," said McManus, R-Lake Leelanau. "As we observe National Teen Driver Safety Week, it is important that we work together to make a concerted effort to reduce risks for teen drivers. My bill helps do this, and I ask my colleagues for their support."
Senate Bill 441 prohibits drivers under age 18 with a level two graduated driver license from having more than one minor as a passenger in the vehicle. The legislation makes exception for family members and for when the teen is driving to school or a school function where busing is not provided.
A recent study conducted by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance found that teen drivers' fatal crash risk is five times greater when two or more passengers are in the car compared with the teen driving alone.
"Today's teenagers - with iPhones, Blackberries, text messages, Twitter and Facebook - are more distracted than ever before," McManus said. "These serious distractions multiply with each additional passenger. We must reduce the chances of these young, inexperienced drivers becoming yet another statistic."
National Teen Driver Safety Week was established in 2007 by the U.S. Congress to focus the nation's attention on the horrific trend in teen vehicle related deaths.
For more information on National Teen Driver Safety Week, visit http://ready2drive.org.
SB 441 awaits further action by the Senate Transportation Committee.
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Editor's note: video and a print quality photo from the event will be available online by visiting www.senatormichellemcmanus.com.
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