A pair of bills that are intended to make driving less hazardous for those with provisional driver’s licenses or learners permits and increase teen driver safety was approved today by the New Jersey Senate. The bills, S-16 and S-2314, are co-sponsored by Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12).
“Over the past year or two, we have seen a tremendous surge in the number of fatal accidents involving young drivers,” said Beck. “These bills are vital in our efforts to ensure that new drivers have the opportunity to learn critical driving skills without distractions and under conditions that minimize the risk to themselves and others.”
S-16 revises the restrictions on those drivers who hold special learner’s permits, examination permits and provisional driver’s licenses. Under current law, those with examination permits and probationary licenses are prohibited from driving between midnight and 5 AM. Under the legislation, the restrictions are overnight driving would be extended to begin at 11 PM. Additionally, S-16 would limit permit and probationary license holders who are under 21 years of age to transporting one passenger besides any dependents, except when the licensee or permit holder is accompanied by a parent or guardian. Finally, S-16 changes the name of a “provisional” driver’s license to a “probationary” driver’s license.
“For many young drivers, learning to drive is hard enough without any distractions,” said Beck. “History has proven that carloads of unsupervised teens and driving late at night are recipes for disaster. This legislation will impose reasonable restrictions to prevent the circumstances that too often lead to fatal accidents with teen drivers.”
S-2314, legislation known as “Kyleigh’s Law,” requires the holders of special learner’s permits, examination permits and provisional driver’s licenses to display decals on their vehicles indicating that they are the holder of such a permit or license. The legislation is named in honor of Kyleigh Dalessio, a 16 year old honor student killed in an accident involving a young driver with multiple passengers in the vehicle. Under the terms of the bill, those with permits or provisional driver’s licenses would be prohibited from operating a motor vehicle unless the decal is properly displayed.
“We have special laws for new drivers that are meant to ensure their safety while they are learning to drive, including passenger restrictions and limitations on overnight driving,” added Beck. “It is difficult, however, for law enforcement to judge from a quick glance at a passing car whether a driver is subject to those restrictions. By requiring new drivers to display highly visible and reflective decals, we can give law enforcement the tools they need to identify risky behavior before an accident occurs.”
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