Connecticut Teen Driving Safety Partnership

CT Leading Way Nationally Through New Teen-Driving Suspension law

2008-07-24T07:48:00.003-04:00

WATERBURY - Beginning August 1, Connecticut will impose the nation’s first law to immediately suspend a license of a young teen driver who has violated expanded passenger and curfew restrictions as well as committed certain other speeding-related violations.

“With the support of the law enforcement community, teens will experience immediately the effect of losing their licenses when disregarding these laws. It’s a tough message we want both teens and their parents to hear and feel," said DMV Commissioner Robert M. Ward, also co-chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Teen Safe Driving.

“In the past teens might have received a citation and not told parents about it because they could continue to drive. Now it will be very hard to explain why the car isn’t the driveway because they cannot drive it home. Parents will have to go to the police station 48 hours later to sign for the return of the license,” he added.

This new law for 16- and 17-year-old drivers is part of a series of laws to go into effect August 1. According to federal transportation officials, no other state has imposed an immediate suspension sanction on this age group. Local and state police officers, who will have primary roles in both education and enforcement of the laws, have praise for its effort to raise safety awareness.

The President of the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association, Chief Matthew A. Reimondo of the East Hampton, said, “The Association has had representation on the Governor’s Task Force for teenage driving and supports the new legislation regarding teenage drivers. All municipal law enforcement officers in the state of Connecticut are presently receiving training on this new legislation and will enforce these laws within their communities.”

“Our efforts are to reduce the number of new teen driver-related motor vehicle accidents and fatalities. Officers throughout the state of Connecticut will coordinate these efforts through education and enforcement. It is the Connecticut Police Chief’s Association’s belief that by working together, we can make the highway safer for everyone,” he said.

State Police Lt. Col. Peter Terenzi, a member of the Governor’s Task Force, added, "Nothing is more heartbreaking then a Trooper or officer having to knock on the door of a home to deliver the sad message nobody wants to hear. Our new laws for teen drivers have been carefully designed to enhance the 16- and 17-year-old drivers' safety on the roads and highways in Connecticut. These new laws will be enforced by state and local police. The new penalties, which involve the teens and their parents, will make open the lines of safety communication and lives will be saved."

Police officers who have witnessed numerous tragedies involving teen drivers are committed to the educational and enforcement components of this important new law, said Farmington Police Chief James Rio, also a member of the Governor’s Task Force. “We intend to remind teens of the law in the schools through our school resource officers and to consistently enforce the law on the streets. We are committed to this important role as a partner in the effort to reduce teen injuries and deaths,” he said.

The state Division of Criminal Justice also supports the strict enforcement of the new Graduated Drivers' License laws, said Senior Assistant State’s Attorney and Task Force member Susan M. Naide. These laws will help more young people have an opportunity to fulfill their potential and fewer families will experience the devastating impact of needless serious injury or death of a loved one, she said.

“Parental responsibility, supported by the efforts of the law enforcement community, can significantly reduce the incidence of unnecessary crashes. These new laws are designed to make our roads safer for everyone,” she pointed out.

According to Preusser Research Group of Trumbull, which conducts federal studies of crash data, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, statistics about Connecticut show:

* The crash rate per 10,000 population for 16-17 year-olds is about 50% higher than the crash rate for 35-49 year-olds.
* Approximately 75% of 16- and 17-year-old drivers were judged at fault in crashes.
* When these teens are at fault, the most common reasons are following too closely and speed.
* Fatal teen crashes are more likely occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight, and passengers can be a contributing factor to these fatalities.

The seizure of the driver’s license on the scene is part of the package of laws Governor M. Jodi Rell proposed this year to combat teen accidents, injuries and deaths. The Governor created a Task Force on Teen Safe Driving to review solutions and it recommended various changes to strengthen laws and included support for the immediate seizure of the license when a violation is issued.

The seizure occurs after a police officer issues a violation. The new law requires 16-and 17-year-olds to face an immediate suspension penalty if they are cited for:

§ Violating any of the driving restrictions that apply after licensure, such as those pertaining to passengers as well as a night time curfew.

§ Driving 20 miles per hour or more above a posted speed limit.

§ Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

§ Driving recklessly.

§ Racing a motor vehicle on a public highway.

In addition, the police officer is authorized to remove the vehicle from the scene. The driver’s license will be held by the police department for that 48-hour period when the violation is issued and will be considered suspended.

To regain possession of the license, the teen and parent or legal guardian must go to the police department and sign a written statement acknowledging the license has been returned. The police will also electronically file a report on the seizure with the DMV for recordkeeping.

“This penalty is a clear reminder of just how important it is for our youngest drivers to practice safe driving and follow the rules of the road,” DMV Commissioner Ward said. “In addition, the penalty includes the direct involvement of parents, who can ultimately decide at any time to take away the car keys from their teenager.”

As the state prepares for many changes to the teen driving laws, DMV is will begin Thursday a statewide parental and public awareness campaign to inform Connecticut teens, parents and guardians, and the public in general about the changes. The campaign, which is entitled: “Teen Driving: You Risk, You Lose,” includes among its first-phase projects:

· A new English brochure that will be distributed in DMV offices and other locations statewide as well as mailed to those receiving registration and license renewals. It also will be available to civic, school and medical/dental groups for distribution.

· A Spanish brochure to also be distributed statewide.

· A new poster to be distributed in high schools and other venues where teens congregate or gather in groups.

· Two different radio ads to inform listeners of the new teen driving laws. One ad features Farmington Police Chief Rio and Task Force member and West Hartford resident, Timothy Hollister, a bereaved parent, talking about the need for the laws to save teen lives and for more parental involvement with safe driving practices. The other ad features Dr. Brendan Campbell, a Connecticut trauma surgeon, talking about the injuries he sees and how the laws and parental involvement can help to prevent the accidents that bring teens to his operating room.

· A revised supplement to the Connecticut Driver’s manual to inform parents and new teen drivers about the new laws.

· A revised Parent’s Guide that is available online at www.ct.gov/teendriving.

· A new curriculum and information guide for teens and their parents or guardians who must take a new two-hour joint information session on safe driving practices before being able to obtain a license.

DMV’s new Center for Teen Safe Driving ( www.ct.gov/teendriving) has received a grant from the state Department of Transportation’s Transportation Safety Section and the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as well as support from the Allstate Foundation and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center to help fund some of these projects. The center’s web site contains links for information for parents about training and the new laws.

DMV Press Conference at CCMC, July 9th, 10am

2008-07-08T16:07:00.002-04:00

The CT Department of Motor Vehicles and the Connecticut Children's Medical Center will hold a press conference on July 9th at 10am at the hospital. Commissioner Ward and Dr. Brendan Campbell will speak about the new law coming into effect, changes at DMV, and a driving simulator initiative.

Community Forum on Teen Driving Safety, June 18

2008-06-11T10:11:00.001-04:00

Willimantic – Parents and teens are invited to learn more about Connecticut’s new, tougher teen driving laws during a free Community Forum on Teen Driving Safety, featuring state Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Robert M. Ward, on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Theater, 896 Main Street, Willimantic.

Forum panelists will discuss Connecticut’s new teen driving laws, which take effect August 1, 2008, and strategies for improving the safety of teenage drivers.

WILI-AM radio host Wayne Norman will moderate. The Capitol Theater box office will open at 6 p.m. the night of the forum. Seating is limited. Free tickets may also be reserved in advance by calling EASTCONN at 860-779-3770.

Forum panelists include David Calchera, executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents; Brendan Campbell, M.D., director of Pediatric Trauma, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, and a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Teen Safe Driving; Sherry Chapman, president of !MPACT (Mourning Parents Act), of Coventry, and a member of the Governor’s Task Force; Capt. Frank Griffin, of the Connecticut State Police, Eastern District Headquarters; Taylor Jennett, a student at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury; Jim MacPherson, a driver education professional of AAA, West Hartford, and a member of the Governor’s Task Force; Jack Thaw, Ph.D., adolescent psychologist, Glastonbury, and a member of the Governor’s Task Force; and Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Robert M. Ward, who also co-chairs the Governor’s Task Force.

Co-sponsoring the forum are Charter Community Access TV, the Chronicle, EASTCONN, Safe Kids Windham County, WILI-AM, the Willimantic Fire Department, the Willimantic Police Department, Windham Hospital, the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce and the Windham Regional Community Council.

Last November, in the aftermath of seven teenage deaths in car crashes over a four-month period, Rell formed the Governor’s Task Force on Teen Safe Driving. Task Force recommendations resulted in the state legislature’s bipartisan approval of new, tougher teen driving laws, which will affect both teens and their parents. The new laws will impose tighter restrictions on young drivers and tougher penalties for driving violations.

To learn more about Connecticut’s new teen-driver laws, visit www.ct.gov/teendriving. To learn more about EASTCONN, visit www.eastconn.org.

Milford Students Demo New Teen Driving Simulator

2008-04-29T14:13:00.015-04:00

Funding from Allstate Foundation allows Connecticut Children’s Medical Center project to improve teen safety behind the wheel

Students at Jonathan Law High School in Milford became the first in the state to use a computer-based virtual driver training simulator Tuesday morning. The equipment will be back at the school for three months next year as part of a pilot project initiated by Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and Allstate Foundation to help students understand the rules of the road and recognize and develop appropriate responses to typical driving hazards.

Students who got behind the wheel of the computer-based simulator saw how the 12-lesson program can help them improve driving skills by creating realistic scenarios that challenge inexperienced drivers. Lack of experience is a leading risk factor for approximately 500,000 teen injuries and 6,000 teen deaths annually.

“This kind of training has been shown to increase the scanning skills of young drivers, better equipping them to identify and to respond to driving hazards, and because of their low cost it is realistic to think that simulators could be in every high school in the state, giving young novice drivers another strategy to reduce their risk of injury or death on our roads,” said Kevin Borrup, director of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids at Connecticut Children’s.

Jonathan Law High School, with Weaver High School in Hartford, will be the first of six schools throughout the state to host the simulators for about three months each in the 2008-2009 school year. If the project, part of a comprehensive effort in the state to reduce the number of teen crash-related deaths and injuries, succeeds, sponsors hope to secure additional funding to put the simulators in all the state’s high schools and to evaluate the impact that this type of training program can have on overall teen crash rates and fatalities.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric care and the only free-standing hospital in the state devoted exclusively to the care of children. Connecticut Children’s offers a full range of services for children from birth through age 18 and brings quality care to children statewide through 10 affiliated community hospitals and 12 practice locations. Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. Teen driving has been a priority for the Foundation since 2005.

Governor Rell signs teen driving law

2008-04-21T12:00:00.006-04:00

Governor Rell signed the teen driving law today at a signing ceremony at Conard High School in West Hartford at 3:00 pm. [picture: Governor Rell - center, is surrounded by members of the Governor's Teen Safe Driving Task Force, including the Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Galvin - left, and Co-Chair of the Transportation Committee Representative Tony Guerrera - right]

The law will take effect Aug. 1st. It increases from 20 hours to 40 hours the number of hours of on-the-road training required for licensure and the midnight curfew will be rolled back to 11 pm. Parents and guardians will now be required to attend two hours of classroom instruction with their teens. The law also contains provisions allowing police to suspend a teen's license if they are caught violating certain driving laws.

The full text of the bill can be found at:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/FC/pdf/2008HB-05748-R000581-FC.pdf

"Talk to Teen Drivers Night" April 17th, 2008

2008-03-26T07:48:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, Governor Rell announced the designation of April 17, 2008 as "Talk to Teen Drivers Nght" in Connecticut.

T-A-L-K stands for: Teach Accountability, Laws and Knowledge about safety.

She asked parents of teenagers to reach out to their children and have a candid discussion about the responsibility of driving.

She encouraged parents to be influential in the lives of their teens saying, "Your words, your actions, and your insight can have a lasting influence on your child."

The Governor said that parents need to be proactive in enforcing the laws at home before the police do on the road. Parents should become familiar with the laws such as passenger restrictions for newly licensed teens and curfews for all 16 and 17-year-olds.

A summary of the law can be found on this site www.ctdrive.blogspot.org on the right under "Resources."

The Governor also urged the use of parent-teen driving contracts, an example of which can be found on this site alongside the summary of CT law.

For further information go to the Governor's Task Force: http://www.ct.gov/teendriving/cwp/view.asp?Q=412258&A=3292

Teen Fatal Crash Data Update: 1997-2006

2008-03-14T09:30:00.003-04:00

Injury Prevention Center at Connecticut Children's Medical Center Prepares Summary of DMV Data on Connecticut Teen Fatal Crashes

Summary:

16-year olds have the highest rate for crashes involving a fatality. From 1997-2006, crash rates were 49.2 per 10,000 in 16 year old drivers, which was followed by 43 per 10,000 in 18 year, 40.5 per 10,000 in 17 year, and 34.2 per 10,000 in 19 year old drivers.
Male drivers represent an overwhelming majority of drivers involved in fatal crashes. Seventy six percent of the teen drivers were male and 24% were female.
About forty percent (40%) of the fatal car crashes occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.
Less than a quarter (22.3%) of the participants were drinking drivers
Forty eight percent (48%) used a known restraint system (shoulder belt, lap belt, and lap and shoulder belt).
Crash rates decreased significantly for female drivers from ages 16 to 19, with a starting rate of 42.3 declining to 12.5 (per 10,000), respectively.
Percentage of fatal crashes involving one or more passengers were 71.5% in 16 year, 57.5% in 17 year, 46.8% in 18 year, and 44.5% in 19 year old drivers.

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS CAR CRASH DEATHS INCREASE STARTING AT AGE 12

2008-03-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

Researchers share 5 key tips for parents to protect children from
unsafe driving situations

Philadelphia, PA, March 3, 2008 -Child passengers, ages 12 to 16,
are more likely to die in a car crash than younger children,
according to a study released today in the Archives of Pediatric
and Adolescent Medicine. This risk increases with each teenage
year. Conducted as part of an on-going research collaboration
between The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State
Farm Insurance Companies®, the study offers evidence-based
guidelines for parents and policymakers to help protect this
vulnerable age group.

Researchers examined 45,560 crashes involving 8- to 17-year-old
passengers. Between 2000 and 2005, 9,807 passengers in this age
group died in crashes.

"We saw a clear tipping point between ages 12 and 14, where child
passengers became much more likely to die in a crash than their
younger counterparts," says Flaura Koplin-Winston, M.D., Ph.D.,
founder and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury
Research and Prevention at CHOP. "Long before these children ever
receive a learner's permit, they begin to exhibit a pattern that
looks more like the high fatality rates we see for teen drivers."

Of the nearly 10,000 passenger deaths studied by the CHOP
researchers, more than half (54.4 percent) were riding with a
driver under age 20; nearly two-thirds were unrestrained; and more
than three-quarters of the crashes occurred on roads with posted
speed limits above 45-miles- per-hour. Alcohol was also a factor in
one-fifth of the fatal crashes. Previous research has shown that as
children grow into adolescence, they are more likely to ride in
cars with drivers other than their parents, such as classmates,
friends, or older siblings.

After controlling for a variety of factors, researchers found key
predictors that pose the greatest risk to older child passengers.
"Riding with drivers younger than 16 years old, not wearing seat
belts, and riding on higher speed roads are the three biggest
factors contributing to an older child being killed in a crash,"
says Dr. Winston. "Knowing the risks can help parents and teens
make smart decisions about which rides are safe, and which ones are
off limits."

"We should not accept teen crash deaths as random accidents," says
Laurette Stiles, vice president of Strategic Resources of State
Farm. "These deaths are preventable. Our hope is that teens,
parents and policymakers will work together to develop a culture of
safe, smart passengers by providing guidance, and reinforcing safe
behaviors throughout the teen years."

CHOP researchers recommend these 5 tips to help parents protect
their children from an unsafe driving situation:

-Insist on seat belts. All occupants should buckle up on
every trip, every time.
-Set a good example. Don't drink and drive. Avoid
distractions like cell phones. Obey the speed limit.
-Set rules about safe passenger behaviors. Discuss what's
helpful or distracting to a driver.
-Monitor your child's travel. Know where he or she is
going, with whom, how they are getting there, and when they will be
home.
-Know and trust the driver. It's not safe for your child to
ride with a teen who has less than one year of driving experience.

In addition, Dr. Winston says that changes in policy, coupled with
enforcement, can help to protect teen drivers and their passengers.
Optimal graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws that emphasize a
lengthened learner's phase beginning at 16, as well as nighttime
driving and passenger restrictions during the intermediate phase
can help reduce the risk for teens. Primary seat belt laws for all
occupants to at least age 18 are also recommended.

For more information on this study and to find additional tips,
parents can visit www.chop.edu/youngdrivers to download a "Teaching
Your Teen to Be a Smart Passenger" tip sheet.

Doctor Crusades To Tighten Laws For Young Drivers

2008-02-21T10:59:00.001-05:00

Keeping Teenagers Alive
--------------------
By MAGDALENE PEREZ
Courant Staff Writer

Dr. Brendan Campbell still remembers the first time he saw a teenage driver die on the operating table. It was a spring night in 1996, and a 16-year-old had crashed his pickup truck into a tree. Doctors rushed the boy into the emergency room about midnight, but there was little they could do.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-teendriving0221.artfeb21,0,6980376.story

CT to Receive Report Card Pinpointing Dangerous Gaps in Traffic Safety Laws

2008-02-14T15:52:00.001-05:00

As state legislatures across the nation consider tens of thousands of bills during this 2008 legislative session and as U.S. traffic deaths persist near a 14-year high, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety will hold a news conference to unveil its "2008 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws" report. Each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia will receive a report card grading them on their passage of 15 essential highway safety laws related to teen driving, drunk driving, and mandatory use of seat belts, child booster seats, and motorcycle helmets. The report will spotlight the best, worst and most improved states, and provide up-to-date data on each state's traffic deaths and related economic losses. Each Governor and state legislature will be sent their report card pinpointing dangerous gaps in their traffic safety laws that should be closed during this 2008 legislative session.

WHEN: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
WHERE: Mayflower Hotel (Senate Room), 1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC

WHO:
JUDITH LEE STONE (President) and JACKIE GILLAN (Vice President) of
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (http://www.saferoads.org).

SHERRY CHAPMAN (Hartford, CT), who co-founded Mourning Parents Act
(!MPACT) after her son Ryan Ramirez, age 19, was killed as a passenger in
a crash caused by a teen driver on December 7, 2002. Ms. Chapman is a
board member of the Connecticut Governor's Task Force on Teen Driving
Safety and the Connecticut Teen Driving Safety Partnership. She is writing
a memoir with the working title, "Unfathomable Loss: A Mother's Grief
Journey."

TODD WAYMON (Silver Spring, MD), whose son Matt, age 16, was killed in a
multiple fatal crash caused by a newly-licensed teen driver on July 14,
1998. In response, Todd lobbied the state of Maryland to enact new
landmark teen driving safety laws and founded COA-MATT (Coming of Age -
May All Teens Thrive) to help teens and their families transition to
adulthood with activities to develop life skills and responsible behavior.

STEPHEN HARGARTEN, MD, MPH (Milwaukee, WI), Chair of Emergency Medicine
Department at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he serves as
Director of its Injury Research Center.

STATE SENATOR JOHN CULLERTON (Chicago, IL), Majority Caucus Whip of the
Illinois State Senate and chair of the Judiciary Civil Law Committee, who
has been a leading traffic safety advocate over his 28 years in the
Illinois House and Senate.

STATE DELEGATE JOLENE IVEY (Cheverly, MD), member of the Maryland House of Delegates and co-founder of Mocha Moms, a nationwide support group for
at-home mothers of color.

FREE LIVE WEBCAST OF THIS NEWS CONFERENCE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE URL BELOW. http://newmediamill.com/webcasts/saferoads/20080218

45% of doctors surveyed in Connecticut lost a teen patient in a car crash

2008-02-14T08:27:00.003-05:00

The Connecticut Teen Driving Safety Partnership recently sent reminder postcards to all doctors who are members of the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians, revealing survey results showing that 45% of doctors had lost a teen patient to a car crash. The number one public health threat to young adults and teens is death by motor vehicle, not cancer, not the flu, or any other disease.

The reminder postcards urge doctors to make a difference by discussing teen driving risks with teens and their parents.

Doctors offices have been provided with two tools to use: 1) the Parent-Teen Driving Contract, and 2) The Law on Teen Drivers in Connecticut.

Refills on these materials can be obtained by contacting the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Hartford at Connecticut Children's Medical Center by calling 860-545-9985. Allstate's series of teen driving posters can also be obtained by calling this number (supplies are limited).

Teen Driving Public Forum January 31 in Rocky Hill

2008-01-28T14:01:00.000-05:00

Governor M. Jodi Rell and State Representative Antonio "Tony" Guerrera (D-29, Rocky Hill) announced today that the Governor's Teen Safe Driving Task Force will hold a public forum on Thursday, January 31 at 7 p.m. at the Rocky Hill Town Hall for the public to give comment about teen driving laws.

"I encourage the public to attend this forum and speak out about how they would like to see our teen driving laws improved," Governor Rell said. "This is an excellent opportunity to help my task force craft recommendations. Bring your ideas to Rocky Hill. Let this panel know where you stand. With your input, we can make all of our roads safer and prevent future senseless tragedies."

Representative Guerrera said, "This forum is extremely important to every teenager and parent in Rocky Hill. It gives them an opportunity to voice their views and concerns about young drivers. The forum also will help the Task Force gather information and public input that can be used to assist us in drafting new legislation. I urge every concerned parent and teenager to attend. Your views are very important."

The Governor's Teen Safe Driving Task Force met on Friday, January 25 and unanimously approved short-term recommendations as well as mandatory suspension terms for teen drivers who violate motor vehicle laws. She will include those proposals in the 2008 legislative package she will present to the legislature on February 6.

Last week, Governor Rell announced the results of a recent statewide survey on teen driving that found a majority of those polled favored stronger laws, tougher penalties for violations and increased educational requirements for young drivers under 18-years-old. Governor Rell also announced this month proposed changes to state law that aim to crack down on underage drinking and driving, including suspension of licenses and attending mandatory substance abuse training programs.

Governor Rell created the Task Force last November to closely examine laws related to teen driving and to explore new ways to raise awareness among teens and parents.

Governor's Task Force on Teen Safe Driving seeks public comment

2008-01-24T13:20:00.000-05:00

The Governor's Task Force is seeking public comment on its proposed changes to Connecticut law regulating teen drivers. Click this link to review the proposed changes and for instructions on how to submit comments. For meeting dates, see our calendar in the right-hand column.

Or, email your comments directly to: teen.driving@ct.gov

Teen Driving Survey Results

2008-01-21T11:30:00.001-05:00

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today the results of a recent statewide survey on teen driving that found a majority of those polled favored strengthening laws, toughening penalties for violations and increasing educational requirements for young drivers under 18-years-old.

The Governor said that the survey, which was done the first week of January and polled both parents and members of the public without children, found support for many of the initiatives under discussion by her Task Force on Teen Driving. The survey was requested by the task force so that a current indication of parental and public opinion could be considered when reviewing strategies.

On Friday, Governor Rell announced proposed changes to state law that aim to crack down on underage drinking and driving.
* Upon a referral to the Department of Motor Vehicles by the arresting officer for operating under the influence, the license of a 16 or 17 year old will be suspended for a period of not less than one year. The 16 or 17 year olds still have right to a hearing, but there will be no discretion on the length of the suspension. This is an entirely separate and distinct process from the criminal proceeding.
* If the license of a 16 or 17 year old is suspended for operating under the influence by DMV, the 16 or 17 year old must complete a mandatory Substance Abuse Training Program (SATP). Again, this is an entirely separate and distinct process from the criminal proceeding. DMV contracts with private entities to administer the SATP program.

"These findings are important because they show that both parents and other members of the public want change in how we deal with our teenage drivers," Governor Rell said. "There have been too many tragedies that tell us that we need to do something more.

"Just last week, I proposed tougher drinking and driving laws for teens and this survey shows we need to take more action. It is clear that parents want safety addressed in more ways and that makes sense."

More than three-quarters of both parents and other adults support increasing the amount of supervised driving required for drivers under the age of 18 before they receive their license (parents 75%, other adults 76%. See full summary of findings below).

Also, the survey found support for:
* A longer learner's permit period (parents 63%, other adults 70%),
* A longer period of time when drivers under age 18 cannot carry passengers other than their parents (parents 64%, other adults 68%). Most parents responded that drivers under 18 are more likely to cause or have an accident when they have passengers in the vehicle (parents 92%, other adults 91%).
* Increased penalties for drivers under 18 with more than one moving traffic violation (parents 61%, other adults 62%).
* Extending a curfew at night for drivers under 18 (parents 51%, other adults 59%). Drivers under 18 currently cannot drive after midnight.

The survey also showed parents were very aware of the current requirements for teen drivers:
* That a teen must be 16 years old to get a learner's permit and must hold it for 4 to 6 months (97% were aware).
* That 20 hours of supervised driving are required before a teen under age 18 can take the road test for a license (91% aware).
* That in the first three months after receiving a license a driver under age 18 cannot carry passengers other than parents (93%) and cannot drive after midnight (81%).

The survey was designed and managed by PRG, Inc. of Trumbull for the Connecticut Department of Transportation in support of the Governor's Task Force on Teen Driving. The phone survey called 398 parents of teens aged 15, 16, or 17 and 409 other adults aged 18 and older during the week of January 7, 2008. The persons were selected at random. PRG conducts a number of highway traffic studies for the state and federal Departments of Transportation. It has studied teen driving for more than a decade in various states around the country and for the federal DOT.

In November, Governor Rell created a special task force to examine laws related to teen driving and to explore new ways to raise awareness among teens and their parents about critical safety issues following the accident-related deaths of several Connecticut teens. The Governor charged the group with establishing a timeframe and developing short and long term recommendations.

Summary of Findings

(Note: All percentages are combined totals of support or awareness from the survey)

Learner's Permit

Were you aware that the law in Connecticut states that a driver must be at least 16 years old to get a permit and that the permit must be held for 4 to 6 months before taking the driver's test?
Parents - 96.7 % aware
General population - 83.9 % aware

Would you support a longer permit holding period for drivers under 18?
Parents - 62.5 % support
General population - 70.4 % support

Would you support an increase in the minimum age at which a driver may get a learner's permit?
Parents - 45.7 % support
General population - 54.6 % support

Speeding and Other Moving Violations by Teen Drivers

How much do you agree with the statement: In general, drivers under 18 speed more often than older drivers?
Parents - 66.1 % support
General population - 74.8 %

How much do you agree with the statement: Drivers under 18 with more than 1 moving violation are more like likely to have an accident or cause an accident than older drivers with more than 1 moving violation?
Parents - 65.1 % agree
General population - 69.7 % agree

Would you support increased penalties for drivers under 18 with more than 1 moving violation?
Parents - 61.3 % agree
General population - 62.1 % agree

Training and Education of Teen Drivers

Were you aware that drivers in Connecticut under 18 must have at least 20 hours of supervised driving before being able to take their road test?
Parents - 91 % aware
General population - 72.6 % aware

Would you support increasing the minimum required amount of supervised driving for drivers under 18?
Parents - 74.9 % support
General population - 75.5 % support

Do you plan on self teaching your teen or using a private driver's education class?
Parents - Self Teach - 11.6 %
Professional driver's education and further instruction at home - 86.5 %

Do you think that driver's education adequately trains drivers under 18 for solo driving?
Parents
48.6 % - yes
35.9 % - no

Alcohol and Teen Driving

How much do you agree with the statement: In general, drivers under 18 are more likely to drive after consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs than older drivers?
Parents - 44.5 % agree
General population - 55.2 % agree

Passengers and Teen Driving

How much do you agree with the statement: In general drivers under 18 are more likely to have an accident or cause an accident when they have other teens in the car with them?
Parents - 91.9 % agree
General pop - 91 % agree

Were you aware that in Connecticut for a period of time drivers under 18 are not allowed to carry passengers other than their parents?
Parents - 93.2 % aware
General population - 76.8 % aware

Would you support lengthening the length of time that drivers under 18 may not carry passengers other than their parents?
Parents - 63.8 % support
General population - 68.2 % support

Teen Driving and Curfews

How much do you agree with the statement: Drivers under 18 are more likely to have an accident or cause an accident at night than older drivers?
Parents - 63.3 % agree
General population - 62.1 % agree

Were you aware that in Connecticut drivers under 18 are not permitted to drive after midnight (with some specific exceptions)?
Parents - 80.7 % aware
General population - 52.3 % aware

Would you support a time earlier than midnight for the night driving restriction to begin?
Parents - 51 % support
General population - 58.9 % support

What is the earliest start time you would still support:
Parents - 10 pm - 38.4 %
11 p.m. 49.8 %

General population - 10 p.m. 45.6 %
11 p.m. - 37.3 %

Vehicle Identification of Teen Drivers

Would you support a law requiring vehicles operated by drivers under 18 to display a sticker identifying the driver as a novice driver?
Parents - 38.4 %
General population - 43.3 %

Governor Rell Proposes Tougher Penalties for 16 and 17 Year Olds Who Drink and Drive

2008-01-18T15:13:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor Rell Proposes Tougher Penalties for 16 and 17 Year Olds Who Drink and Drive

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced proposed changes to state law that aim to crack down on underage drinking and driving.

"There is absolutely no excuse for anyone to get behind the wheel if they are under the influence," Governor Rell said. "We need to do a better job of getting that message to sink in with our youngest drivers. The accidents we have seen in recent years involving young people drinking and driving have been utterly tragic. To me, these accidents show that simply talking about the problem is not enough anymore. We need to put teeth into our laws that will deter those who even consider drinking and driving from doing so."

Governor Rell is proposing the following changes to state law:
* Upon a referral to the Department of Motor Vehicles by the arresting officer for operating under the influence, the license of a 16 or 17 year old will be suspended for a period of not less than one year. The 16 or 17 year olds still have right to a hearing, but there will be no discretion on the length of the suspension. This is an entirely separate and distinct process from the criminal proceeding.
* If the license of a 16 or 17 year old is suspended for operating under the influence by DMV, the 16 or 17 year old must complete a mandatory Substance Abuse Training Program (SATP). Again, this is an entirely separate and distinct process from the criminal proceeding. DMV contracts with private entities to administer the SATP program.

"It is time that we come together as a state and say we are sick and tired of seeing our young people ruin their lives and others' lives by driving under the influence. We need to show that we are serious about preventing future tragedies. We need to teach our young people that their actions and their choices have consequences. Stiffer penalties for operating a vehicle under the influence will make our roads safer, and that is something we all want."

In November, Governor Rell announced the creation of a special task force to examine laws related to teen driving and to explore new ways to raise awareness among teens and their parents about critical safety issues following the accident-related deaths of several Connecticut teens. The task force has been charged with creating a coordinated effort that takes a multi-pronged approach including:
* New strategies of awareness and a framework for making the strategies work effectively.
* A re-examination of certain penalties associated with violations with which teens are frequently charged.
* The creation of a partnership of interested parties statewide that work in targeted and different ways to broadcast the same message about teen driving safety to both parents and teens.

The Governor charged the group with establishing a timeframe and developing short and long term recommendations.

Task Force Meeting Summary (unofficial) 1/11/2008

2008-01-11T16:08:00.000-05:00

At the January 11^th meeting, the Task Force heard from Dr. Jack Thaw regarding teen psychology and considered short-term and long-term recommendations.

Dr. Thaw’s primary comments as they relate to teen driving involved the complexities in communication between parents and teens. Parents need to concern themselves not only with the message they send to teens but the process or manner in which it is delivered.

Commissioner Galvin (Dept. Public Health) expressed his concern that the issues raised by Dr. Thaw were slanted toward the suburban environment. The commissioner stated that urban youth have different hurdles and different needs with regard to driving and that this should be taken in to consideration.

Maria Cruz of “Big A Driving School” expressed her belief that parents were the weak link in promoting safety for teen drivers. She related her experiences as a driving instructor during which parents would often question the need for them to supervise their teen’s driving and question the need for additional behind the wheel experience. She suggested that parents sit with their children in driving school. She also suggested applying criminal penalties for parents of teen drivers.

Former State Senator Billy Ciotto also expressed concern about differences between urban and suburban issues. He also asked Dr. Thaw what he would recommend. In response Dr. Thaw recommended perhaps raising the driving age to 17 and emphasizing meaningful dialogue within families over driving issues not argument.

Next, short-term recommendations were presented, these included:

Eliminate youthful offender pleas for moving violations.
Strengthen penalties under the administrative per se program for teenage drivers who fail alcohol, drug, or urine tests.
Amend Conn. Gen. Stat. S.14-36g(a)(4) to require that all passengers in all seats in any vehicle operated by a driver under 20 wear seat belts; and increase penalties for drivers 16-19 years old who do not wear their belt, to provide for points toward license suspension/revocation.
Revise passenger restrictions for 16-19 year olds requiring that during the entire learner’s permit period passenger be allowed except for a driving instructor or parent or guardian who is supervising the driver. For the first six months for a newly licensed teen driver, no passengers except parent/guardian. For the next six months, allow immediate family as well.
Increase penalties for moving violations (a matrix of violations and penalties was distributed during the meeting).
Increase supervised driving requirement from 20 to 50 hours of practice.
Extend the nighttime driving restriction by changing the start time from midnight to 10:00pm.

The Task Force established 3 subcommittees:

Training and education
Public and parental awareness
Comparisons of other States’ laws, policies, regulations

Meetings of the subcommittees will be open to the public and subject to public notice requirements. The Task Force also reported on a survey being conducted via telephone to gauge the public’s opinion of the proposed changes. Results should be available by the January 25, 2008 meeting.

Next Meeting of the Governor's Task Force, Jan 11th @ 10am

2008-01-04T11:37:00.001-05:00

The Governor's Task Force on Teen Driver Safety will meet on January 11th at 10:00am at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. This will be the second meeting of the Task Force. At this meeting they plan on discussing public policy recommendations that could influence the legislative agenda for the next session. Preliminary information suggests that revisions to the nighttime driving restrictions, learner's permit period, number of on-the-road training hours, stiffer penalties for moving violations, and a seat belt requirement for all passengers (backseat) in a teen driven vehicle are under consideration.

Governor Rell Creates Teen Safe Driving Task Force

2007-11-28T15:11:00.000-05:00

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today the creation of a special task force to examine laws related to teen driving and to explore new ways to raise awareness among teens and their parents about critical safety issues following the accident-related deaths of seven teens in the last four months.

"These accidents and their resulting injuries are tragic. Even one death is horrific and ripples through the lives of friends, families and communities," Governor Rell said. "We need to find new strategies for dealing with this issue. While curfews and passenger restriction laws have produced a drop in accidents and injuries among teen drivers in Connecticut since tougher laws were enacted nearly four years ago, fatal accidents remain a serious problem for these drivers and we must take more aggressive action."

In the last six months in Connecticut, four teens were killed in one crash and three were killed in another. In 2006, Connecticut teens between 16 and 17 year-olds had 4,942 accidents, down slightly from 5,118 in 2005. However, fatalities remained nearly the same for each year with 14 in 2006 and 13 in 2005. National driving statistics pertaining to teenagers' accidents, injuries and deaths all identify speed, recklessness and failure to pay attention to safety precautions as major contributors.

The task force will be comprised of representatives from the fields of law enforcement, insurance, medicine, driver education and school administration as well as officials from the state departments of Motor Vehicles, Public Health, Transportation and Public Safety. In addition, parents who have lost teen drivers in fatal accidents will be included on the task force.Governor Rell named Commissioner Robert M. Ward of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Dr. J. Robert Galvin, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, as co-chairmen of the task force. They will help direct the task force in creating short-term and long-term strategies to address the safety and law enforcement issues.

"There is a clear need for a re-examination of requirements for driving, how we - state regulators, law enforcement, education officials and parents - stress the critical issues of safety and make that message effective," Commissioner Ward said.

"This is a critical issue because the loss of a child is never acceptable," Commissioner Galvin said. "We know that education and awareness programs work and we must continually strive to make our communities safer through a combination of education, awareness and new laws."The task for will be charged with creating a coordinated effort that takes a multi-pronged approach including:
* New strategies of awareness and a framework for making the strategies work effectively.
* A re-examination of certain penalties associated with violations with which teens are frequently charged.
* The creation of a partnership of interested parties statewide that work in targeted and different ways to broadcast the same message about teen driving safety to both parents and teens.

The Governor charged the group with establishing a timeframe and developing recommendations. The timeframe could include both short-term plans - immediate approaches recommended in about two months - and long-term suggestions that are produced in about six months.

"Accidents and deaths involving teen drivers are especially difficult to accept because many are preventable," Commissioner Galvin said. "Working with our many partners, I believe we can bring new, effective approaches to this problem."

In a related matter, The DMV and DPH also recently began work with The Connecticut Teen Driver [sic] Safety Partnership coalition at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. It is enlisting family and pediatric physicians statewide in teen driver safety awareness when the teens and their parents come in for office visits. The group will be providing doctors and other health professionals with materials to distribute to patients.

Governor Rell proclaims the week of December 9th as "Teenage Safe Driving Awareness Week" and recognizes the work of our partnership

2007-11-27T10:39:00.000-05:00

Concerns for Teen Driving Safety Broadly Recognized

2007-11-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

New Britain Herald
http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19035295&BRD=1641&PAG=461&dept_id=594835&rfi=6

Bristol Press
http://www.bristolpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19035056&BRD=1643&PAG=461&dept_id=10486&rfi=6

Parents speak out about the continuing impact from losing a teen

2007-11-12T13:54:00.000-05:00

The founders of Mourning Parents Act (!MPACT) recently spoke to us about the continuing impact on their lives after the loss of their sons. These women are tireless advocates on behalf of our Connecticut teens and driving safety with the hope that other parents will not have to endure the loss of a child. For more information on !MPACT please visit http://www.mourningparentsact.com/.

Teen driving issues featured on NPR

2007-10-25T11:33:00.000-04:00

HARTFORD, CT (2007-10-25) In the first year of driving, one in nine teens will be involved in an accident involving injuries and car crashes are the leading cause of teen death in the state.
The recent rash of accidents involving teens is leading some to ask what can be done in Connecticut to keep young drivers safe... [to read more go to http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wnpr/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1172013]

Hartford Courant Details Fatal Crashes in CT

2007-10-24T15:52:00.000-04:00

Click the link below to see a summary of fatal crashes in Connecticut.

http://www.courant.com/media/acrobat/2007-10/33415296.pdf

Three more teens killed in car crash in CT

2007-10-04T13:05:00.000-04:00

http://www.wfsb.com/news/14267776/detail.html

Three more young lives were taken today. Click the link above to read more. We need to take a stand together as parents and medical professionals to put an end to the carnage on our roads.

DMV Joins with Medical Professionals to Enlist Pediatricians

2007-09-25T09:51:00.000-04:00

Listen to the press conference held at Connecticut Children's Medical Center on 9/24/2007 by clicking the link below
http://www.ct.gov/dmv/lib/dmv/podcast/teensafetypartnership.mp3

HARTFORD - Parents whose teenage children died in automobile accidents joined today with medical professionals and the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles to enlist pediatricians and family physicians around the state in a unique accident-prevention education program for teenagers and their parents.

The goal is to prevent teen injuries and deaths by having their medical professionals engage in blunt conversations about state laws pertaining to teen drivers and the risks that teens often take when operating a motor vehicle.

DMV has also put on its website (http://www.ct.gov/dmv) a podcast with the mothers of three teenagers who died in car accidents. The mothers are members of Mourning Parents Act, Inc. (!MPACT), a group that advocates for laws and education to encourage safe-driving habits by teens. The DMV site will also have a podcast on the press conference today with medical officials.

The coalition pushing for greater physician involvement in teen safe driving is called the Connecticut Teen Driver Safety Partnership. It will be sending surveys this week to pediatricians around the state to inquire about current educational methods. In October the group will be sending materials for doctors to hand out to patients during office visits. Based on survey results, other forms of educational and intervention activities will be designed. It could become a model for programs to be used in other states.

"Our previous work has shown that pediatricians and family physicians can be influenced to change office practices and mobilized to become advocates in community education and policy changes. The Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Connecticut Academy of Family physicians have a successful history of promoting and influencing innovative office-based health care guidance for individuals and families," said Dr. Brendan Campbell, principal investigator for this project and part of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Hartford at Connecticut's Children's Medical Center.

"The heartbreak of losing a child is almost unendurable," said Governor M. Jodi Rell. "Young drivers sometimes need to be reminded they are not indestructible. Doctors can be an effective aide to parents in persuading teens that there is little margin for error behind the wheel. A single careless or risky moment can have terrible - even tragic - results."

The Connecticut Teen Driver Safety Partnership coalition is comprised of the Connecticut chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians, Mourning Parents Act (!MPACT), the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, the state Department of Motor Vehicles, state Department of Public Health, the Injury Free Coalition for Kids and the Allstate Foundation. Funding for the project comes from The Allstate Foundation.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens nationwide. Although 16- and 17-year olds made up 2.5 percent of Connecticut's driving population, they accounted for 12 percent of crashes between 2002 and 2005. Each year, nearly 6,000 teens are killed and more than 300,000 injured in crashes nationwide.In response to the statistics, the Allstate Foundation provided $50,000 to the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Hartford to develop, implement and evaluate a statewide campaign to increase physician involvement in the teen-driving issue.

In addition to providing health care practitioners with teen-driving safety messages to deliver in waiting rooms, during office visits and through in-home reminders, physicians will become more involved in community education and advocacy activities related to teen driving. Results from the pilot project will be shared on a national basis.

DMV Commissioner Robert M. Ward said, "We welcome this partnership and see it as another strong connection to getting our message about teen-driving safety to both parents and teens. I am excited about DMV having this opportunity to work with statewide caregivers who can deliver this important message."

"The Allstate Foundation believes teen driving is a public health crisis that has yet to find a high enough spot on the nation's public health agenda," said an Allstate spokesperson. "With the leadership of Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Hartford and its respected partners, we believe the health care community can use its unique expertise and authority to help surround teens with safe driving messages and ultimately protect teens when they get in a car as a driver or passenger.

"Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. J. Robert Galvin said, "Motor vehicle crashes are a major public health issue in Connecticut and across the country. The tragic consequences of motor vehicle fatalities involving young and inexperienced drivers and their passengers have devastating implications for their family, friends, and communities. Fortunately, virtually all automobile crashes are preventable. This partnership will help prevent them and protect our young drivers and the many victims of automobile fatalities."