Saturday, February 26, 2011

Mostly Illegal, But Still a Tough Choice

Well, the greatest distraction and potential crash hazard for the newest of drivers will finally become illegal in Michigan (uh, sort of) on March 30.

Nope, this law has nothing to do with cell phones. It restricts the number of other young humans that a new driver can load into their car with them. Yup, just about the most dangerous thing that a teen driver can do is load more teens into their car. It's dangerous for the driver and, in turn, for the passengers. So, now Michigan, like many other states, will restrict this dangerous activity EXCEPT, of course, during the times when most teens are driving.

Did you just say, HUH? Well, there's a good reason for that exception, and ends up leading to the same tough choices that parents have always had to make.

OK, here's the essence of the law:
1. It prohibits a driver with a Level 2 graduated driver's license (GDL) from operating a motor vehicle carrying more than one passenger who is under 21 years of age, UNLESS:
a. the passengers are members of the driver's immediate family, or (and here's the issue)
b. the travel is to or from school or a school-sanctioned event.

2. In addition, the nighttime restriction has been extended to 10:00 p.m. from the original midnight starting time. The new nighttime restriction is from 10:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.

So, there you go. One of the most dangerous things that a young driver can do will now be illegal unless they're doing this during the times when most young drivers drive (to and from school or school-sanction events).

Think about that crowded school parking lot when 300 young drivers pile into their vehicles and head out all at once. Think post football games, basketball games, hockey games, concerts, plays, practices of all kinds, returning from away games, etc. Think of that photo at the top of this page and imagine what the running girl's fate could be if that approaching truck was full of distracting peers confusing the new driver. Still sound dangerous? Sure does.

So, have we gained anything with this new law, and why make a law with this very significant exception? There's also the question that asks how a police officer is going to figure the exceptions out so that they can stop a potential violator?

Well, the primary reason for this exemption is a simple and very practical one. With $4.00 gas and crazy family schedules, the carpooling of neighbors and friends is a practical necessity. This is especially true given the daily and repetitive nature of school and school activities, plus the distances that many rural families travel in Michigan.

OK, back to the original question: what have we gained, since most of the time multiple teens will be in the car and exempt from the law is the very time when most teens drive and are at risk? You could say that we get two significant gains. First, this substantial risk (the distracting influence of other teens in the car) now has the power of law behind it. For many parents, placing this type of restriction on their new drivers was desirable but hard to do. They and their kids would end up saying "if it was really that dangerous there would be a law." Well, there is a law now.

Second, there is still a lot of drive time that takes place in the summer, on weekends and during non-school time. Plenty of time for terrible car crashes and injuries generated by this behavior. And, as far as the enforcement question? Well, Officers, Deputies and Troops are smart people and know how to detain the vehicles that they need to detain. This law puts another option in their injury prevention tool box.

That injury prevention tool box is one shared by the parent, and this new law provides them with a significant new tool as well. Just as before, though, the parent will need to weigh the maturity of their new driver, the known risks and the practical and convenience nature of limiting passengers. Then they'll make the tough choices.

Be safe.

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