Steve Bloch Auto Club of Southern California Preparing Your Teen to Drive: What California Teens and Parents Need to Know Steve Bloch Auto Club of Southern California

Overview What’s the problem? – Why do they make getting your license so hard? (Why not just give me the license?) Addressing the problem: “Graduated driver licensing” Before you begin: What parents (and teens) need to know (What you put in is what you get back.)

What’s the Problem?

What’s the Problem? What’s the Problem? Teens die too often in motor vehicle crashes – as drivers and passengers Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens (>1/3 of all deaths of 16-18-year-olds) In fact, car crashes kill more 16-18 year-olds than the next 5 leading causes of death combined (homicides, suicides, drowning, poisonings, cancer, heart disease) (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety) In California, more than 15,000 teen drivers ages 16-19 are killed or injured every year

What’s the Problem? Drivers in Fatal Crashes per 100,000 Licensed Drivers U.S., 2006

Crash Involvement by Driver Age (US, per million miles driven) . Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

What’s the Problem? What’s the Problem? Nighttime driving - A teen’s risk of crashing doubles between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Teen passengers - Crash risks for teen drivers skyrocket when passengers are in the car. (Crash risk does not increase for older, more experienced drivers with passengers.) With 1 passenger, the crash risk for teen drivers doubles With 3+ passengers, the crash risk for teen drivers quadruples In California, more than 11,000 teen passengers ages 16-19 are killed or injured every year.

What’s the Problem? About 1/3 of people killed in teen crashes are passengers in a teen driver’s vehicle About 1/3 are pedestrians, bicyclists or persons in another vehicle

What’s the Problem? Distracted Driving: Using cell phones and other electronic devices: Teens use electronic devices more than other drivers Young drivers are more distracted than older, more experienced drivers by the use of electronic devices

What’s the Problem? Teen drivers lack experience and awareness of risks that older, more experienced drivers are aware of. As a result: About 10%-20% of teen drivers will be in a crash during their first year 2/3 of teens licensed at age 16 will get a traffic citation before turning 18 During their first 1000 miles, teen crash rates are even worse – 3X worse

What’s the Problem? Teen drivers lack experience and awareness of risks that older, more experienced drivers are aware of. As a result: Younger drivers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as speeding and tailgating. But, lacking experience, they’re least able to cope Two leading causes of crashes for this age group are unsafe speed (#1) and tailgating (#7) Failure to buckle up is higher among teens and contributes to more fatalities than any other single traffic safety-related behavior Studies regularly show that teens talk on cell phones and send and receive text messages at higher rates than other drivers 46% of teens admitted to texting while driving in a AAA survey

What’s the Problem? What’s the Problem? Driving a car is exciting for new, young drivers. Unfortunately, it involves more responsibility and risk than they’re likely to have had before. Teens generally don’t know that a first time arrest for drinking and driving can cost a California teen and his or her family over $17,000 in fines, fees, insurance increases, and lawyers fees. And those costs don’t even include car repairs or medical costs if there’s a crash or time lost from work or school.

Graduated Driver Licensing Addressing the Problem: Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)

Graduated Driver Licensing Addressing the Problem: Graduated Driver Licensing What is graduated driver licensing? A driver licensing system that eases teens into driving by placing them, at first, in lower-risk, less difficult driving situations and then relaxing their driving restrictions over time.

Graduated Driver Licensing Addressing the Problem: Graduated Driver Licensing GDL deals with the dangers of: Late night driving – limiting novice teen driving during late night hours Teen passengers – limiting the number that novice drivers can carry Driver distractions – limiting use of cell phones and other electronic devices Lack of experience – requiring teens to pass through several stages of licensing, each lasting 6-12 months

Graduated Driver Licensing Addressing the Problem: Graduated Driver Licensing The 3 stages of California’s graduated driver licensing system: Stage 1 - Learner’s permit (age 15½) Stage 2 – Intermediate, probationary license (age 16) Stage 3 – Full, unrestricted license (age 17 or 18)

Graduated Driver Licensing Addressing the Problem: Graduated Driver Licensing Stage 1 – Getting a Learner’s Permit Be at least 15½ years of age, but under 18 Complete driver’s education and driver training (or complete driver education and be enrolled in driver training, or be enrolled in an integrated driver education and training program) Pass the DMV traffic law, road sign, and vision tests Pay aplication fee ($27) and get parents’ signatures

Graduated Driver Licensing Addressing the Problem: Graduated Driver Licensing Stage 2 – Getting an intermediate, probationary License Hold the learner’s permit for 6 months Be at least age 16, but less than 18 Complete both driver education and training Complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night

Graduated Driver Licensing Addressing the Problem: Graduated Driver Licensing Stage 2 – Intermediate, Probationary License For the first year (or until age 18), no unsupervised driving late at night (11pm - 5am) For the first year (or until age 18), no unsupervised driving with passengers under age 20 Until age 18, no use of cell phones including hands-free or other electronic devices No drinking and driving. California has a Zero Tolerance law for drivers under 21 – No alcohol in your blood

Graduated Driver Licensing Addressing the Problem: Graduated Driver Licensing Stage 3 – Full, Unrestricted License Be at least 18 years of age Have no outstanding DMV or court restrictions, suspensions or probation

Graduated Driver Licensing Addressing the Problem: Graduated Driver Licensing Graduated Driver Licensing Works States with GDL see up to a 38% reduction in fatal crash rates and up to a 40% reduction in injury crash rates for new teen drivers.

Before You Begin: What Parents and Teens Need To Know

What’s important to teens? What Parents and Teens Need To Know What’s important to teens? Looking and feeling good in your new car… Speed Sports car, SUV, or a vintage ride Powerful sound system

What’s important to parents? What Parents and Teens Need To Know What’s important to parents? Cost Reliability Safety

It’s time to talk about… What Parents and Teens Need To Know It’s time to talk about… Who’s responsible for… making car payments? paying for gas? adhering to maintenance schedule and paying for repairs? paying for registration? paying for insurance? fines or penalties

It’s time to talk about… What Parents and Teens Need To Know It’s time to talk about… Driving privileges, responsibilities and consequences for violations Nighttime driving restriction Permitted driving hours — Be specific Passengers Seat belt use Other driving restrictions Driving while fatigued, distracted, intoxicated, or emotional Peer pressure

What Parents and Teens Need To Know Parents: Use contracts Stay involved, it reduces teen risk! Don’t be afraid to seek outside driver training Lead by example – model good behavior Some philosophies don’t work well: “Take my advice, son, I’m not using it”

Questions?

Pre-test (T/F) Once you earn your license, you own it FALSE Drugs and alcohol are the leading cause of teen deaths 2/3 of people killed in teen caused crashes are not teens TRUE 20,000 people died in car crashes in the US last year Alcohol is the number one cause of teen crashes Parents need GDL laws to manage their teen’s learning-to-drive process

What’s the Problem? What’s the Problem? Cost to society Among teen drivers ages 15-17, motor vehicle crashes cost US society more than $34 billion – including things like lost work, medical expenses, property damage, quality of life lost, and police and paramedics costs . That works out to about $4 billion in California.