AAA Michigan Salutes House Members for Passing Teen Passenger Restrictions

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Nov 11, 2010, 03:28 ET

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- AAA Michigan saluted members of the Michigan House for their vote late yesterday (Nov. 10) on a teen driver passenger restriction bill which would prohibit 16-year-old new drivers from having more than one passenger under 21 years of age in the vehicle – with some exceptions.

While the bill initially allowed for teens to have multiple passengers when going to and from work, it was broadened to allow new teens to have multiple passengers when going to and from school and school-related activities. One key element -- which would prohibit cell phone use by 16-year-old drivers behind the wheel – was taken out of the bill before passage yesterday.

House Bill 4493 also decreases the hours a 16-year-old can drive. Currently, 16-year-olds cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m. The new bill allows for driving only between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. – meaning the driver must be off the road by 10 p.m.

AAA Michigan supports the bill, but had hoped it would include a cell-phone ban for new drivers as well as limiting passengers for teen drivers without exception, including school and related school functions. Michigan is one of just eight states with no passenger restrictions for young drivers.

Many studies have shown that limiting the number of teen passengers allowed in a vehicle driven by a teen or novice driver helps make them safer. According to a March 2008 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when teenage drivers transport passengers there is a greatly increased crash risk, with greater risk association with more passengers. With multiple passengers, the crash risk is three to five times greater.

House Bill 4493, which was passed 79-19, with nine not voting, now goes to the Senate, likely at the end of the month.

For more information on how to help keep teens safer drivers, visit TeenDriving.AAA.com. AAA's new website provides extensive information and useful tools for both parents and teens and a downloadable parent-teen driving agreement.

AAA.com

SOURCE AAA Michigan