A nationwide analysis of crash data suggests that the restrictions of graduated drivers licensing (GDL)has resulted in a decrease in the number of fatal crashes among 16 and 17 year olds. However, deadly accidents among 18-to-19-year-olds have INCREASED by an almost equal amount. GDL restrictions do not place restrictions on teens 18 or 19 years old.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, in 2011, the total number of driver deaths of 16 ad 17 year olds due to car crashes was 423. The number of deaths for 18 and 19 year olds during the same time period was DOUBLE - 845! This was the trend for every year between 2000 and 2011. Nearly 40% of the deaths among teens 18 and 19 years old, were passengers in a car driven by another teen.
Studies have also found that for each additional teen passenger in a car driven by another tenager the risk of a fatal crash increase 100%. This means that if four teenagers are in a car which is being driven by a teenager, the odds of fatal crash are QUADRUPLED!
This petition ask for stricter laws which will allow drivers age 18 or 19, to have no more than one additional teen in the car with them while driving unless a parent or guardian is a passenger in the car.
