Davis Levin Livingston Firm Blog »
January 25, 2012
Stronger GDL Laws Could Save 17 Lives in Hawaii Accidents Every Year
Stronger graduated driver’s licensing laws could save as many as 17 teen driver lives in accidents in Hawaii every year. Across the country, close to 2,000 teenagers could be saved annually if all states implemented tougher graduated driver’s licensing programs. That information comes from a study by the National Safety Council, which investigated the role of graduated driver’s licensing programs on teen safety for the Allstate Foundation. Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of unnatural teen fatalities every year, and these drivers have a risk of being killed in accidents that’s about 4 times higher than for older drivers. There are a number of risk factors for these drivers. Not only are they less experienced, but they may also suffer from impulsive tendencies, and a susceptibility to recklessness and rash driving. Teenagers are also much more susceptible to feelings of invincibility, and are more likely to believe that accidents will never happen to them. Additionally, teenagers are less able to filter out distractions in their car, like those from their friends. They are also less equipped to drive during the night. That's why a proper graduated driver’s licensing program will involve nighttime driving restrictions, restrictions on teen passengers, and will set 16 as the minimum age for a learner’s permit. Only 2 states - New York and Delaware - currently have graduated driver’s licensing programs that include those 3 as well as several other important components. Auto safety and child safety groups have been calling for stronger graduated driver’s licensing programs in order to help protect teen motorists. Hawaii’s graduated driver’s licensing program does have certain deficiencies that Hawaii personal injury lawyers believe increases the risk of teen accidents. The program does have restrictions on nighttime driving, but the limitation begins at 11 PM, and not 10 PM as recommended. Moreover, the minimum age for a learner’s permit in Hawaii is 15 ½ years.
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[Personal Injury]
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