Putting the brakes on teen drivers: more and more, teenagers are facing limits on getting a license, and on driving at night or with friends. The feds are behind it.You paid close attention during the training classes, passed the written exam, and aced the road test. So are you ready now for your driver's license Noun 1. driver's license - a license authorizing the bearer to drive a motor vehicle driver's licence, driving licence, driving license license, permit, licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something ? Increasingly, the government's answer is, "Not quite." Getting a license used to give even the youngest person instant, full driving privileges. But in the last eight years, all but three states have enacted some kind of teen-driver restrictions. Graduated driver licensing Graduated driver licensing systems are designed to provide new drivers of motor vehicles with driving experience and skills gradually over time in low-risk environments. There are typically three steps or stages through which new drivers pass. , as it is known, is divided into stages. Each stage--first, a learner's permit Noun 1. learner's permit - a document authorizing the bearer to learn to drive an automobile license, permit, licence - a legal document giving official permission to do something , then an extended period with an apprentice A person who agrees to work for a specified time in order to learn a trade, craft, or profession in which the employer, traditionally called the master, assents to instruct him or her. license, and finally a full license--allows teens greater freedom. But the process takes months or, in some states, years. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB NTSB abbr. National Transportation Safety Board )--the federal agency that is best known for investigating plane crashes but also handles some highway safety issues--is pressing all states to adopt this uniform set of restrictions on young drivers: * Raise the minimum learner's age, now as low as 14 in some states, to 16; * Set the minimum practice driving time supervised su·per·vise tr.v. su·per·vised, su·per·vis·ing, su·per·vis·es To have the charge and direction of; superintend. [Middle English *supervisen, from Medieval Latin by an adult driver, not now required in some states, at 30 to 50 hours, during a six-month "holding period"; * Forbid for·bid tr.v. for·bade or for·bad , for·bid·den or for·bid, for·bid·ding, for·bids 1. To command (someone) not to do something: I forbid you to go. 2. teens from driving without an adult driver present between the hours of 9 or 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. * Allow no more than one teen passenger until the driver is 18. Marion Blakey Marion Clifton Blakey (born March 26, 1948) was the 15th Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. She was the second woman to hold the position, serving as a successor to Jane Garvey, the first woman to hold the Administrator title. , who served as the safety board's chairwoman until October October: see month. , says she became a supporter of graduated licensing as her daughter, 14, approached driving age. "The statistics are not comforting," she says. "Sixteen-year-old drivers have a crash rate that is three times higher than 17-year-olds, five times greater than 18-year-olds, and double the rate of 85-year-olds." MISERABLE STATISTICS Also pushing for graduated licensing is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that still occur. , which is financed by auto insurers (who have a vested interest Vested Interest A financial or personal stake one entity has in an asset, security, or transaction. Notes: For example, if you have a mortgage, your bank has a vested interest on the sale of your house. See also: Right in reducing auto injuries and deaths). According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the institute, 16-year-olds crash almost 10 times more often than drivers age 30 to 59, who statistically are the safest group. Facing such miserable statistics, and a group of drivers who cannot vote (but whose parents do), the states are acting. The idea is that nothing improves driving as much as experience, and that a driver's first months of experience should be in low-risk conditions. The first stage is a mandatory minimum period with a learner's permit--now ranging from none at all, to a year, depending on the state--before an applicant Applicant is a sketch written by Harold Pinter. It was originally written in 1959 and was first broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 1964. Plot Applying for a job, a young man named Mr. can take a road test. Many states also require teens to complete a certain number of hours with a driver over 21 in the passenger seat. In the second stage, the new driver is given a limited license. For a period of up to two years, there are significant restrictions on what he or she is allowed to do. At present, the most common limitation, on the books in 39 states, is on driving at night (although the definition of when night begins ranges from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.). DARKNESS AND DISTRACTIONS Twenty-six states are also putting limits on the number of passengers a new driver may carry, with some states holding down the number of unrelated teens that ride along. The restrictions are linked to two specific problems: darkness and distractions. The safety board says that 20 percent of teen driving occurs at night, but half the fatalities involving teen drivers occur in darkness Adv. 1. in darkness - without light; "the river was sliding darkly under the mist" darkly . And various studies show that the chance of accidents rises with the number of teen passengers a teenage driver carries. Many states are also setting tough penalties--such as license revocation The recall of some power or authority that has been granted. Revocation by the act of a party is intentional and voluntary, such as when a person cancels a Power of Attorney that he has given or a will that he has written. or restarting the clock--for violations by novice drivers. Similar infractions would get older drivers only a fine and a few "points," demerits that mean nothing (except possibly a higher insurance rate) unless the offense is repeated. But all these new conditions are not strict enough for the Insurance Institute. It recently recommended that states administer To give an oath, as to administer the oath of office to the president at the inauguration. To direct the transactions of business or government. Immigration laws are administered largely by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. an "exit test"--a second driving test--that young drivers would have to pass before receiving a regular license. While the limits and requirements might seem unreasonable, many experts believe they are the best hope for pushing down the number of motor-vehicle deaths, now 42,000 a year. According to the safety board: * Teens are 6.9 percent of all licensed drivers, but are involved in 14.4 percent of highway fatalities. * In 2000, 3,594 drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were killed in motor-vehicle crashes, and another 348,000 were injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. . * Motor-vehicle crashes account for 2 percent of all American American, river, 30 mi (48 km) long, rising in N central Calif. in the Sierra Nevada and flowing SW into the Sacramento River at Sacramento. The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill (see Sutter, John Augustus) along the river in 1848 led to the California gold rush of deaths, but are the leading cause of death (36 percent) among 15- to 20-year-olds. THE CINDERELLA Cinderella, heroine of one of the most famous folktales in the world. She is rescued from a life of drudgery by her fairy godmother and eventually marries a handsome prince. FACTOR Not all teens appreciate the protective steps. Shira Shira has multiple meanings:
Contraction of she will. she'll she will or she shall she'll will have to pull over by midnight until she is 17. "It's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have a little bit early, because, well, it's early," she says. "You'd you'd 1. Contraction of you had. 2. Contraction of you would. you'd you had or you would you'd have ~would rather not leave at 11:30 to get home." Espo also says that she hasn't has·n't Contraction of has not. hasn't has not hasn't have heard of anyone being pulled over for driving after hours Adv. 1. after hours - not during regular hours; "he often worked after hours" . Indeed, the curfew curfew [O.Fr.,=cover fire], originally a signal, such as the ringing of a bell, to damp the fire, extinguish all lights in the dwelling, and retire for the night. The custom originated as a precaution against fires and was common throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. can be hard for police to enforce. It requires them to make a quick judgment about the age of a driver before deciding to pull the car over. Blakey Bla·key , Art 1919-1990. American jazz drummer who initiated the practice of cross-rhythm drumming and integrated drums into small group arrangements. suggests that states require young drivers to follow the Australian Australian pertaining to or originating in Australia. Australian bat lyssavirus disease see Australian bat lyssavirus disease. Australian cattle dog a medium-sized, compact working dog used for control of cattle. practice of putting a large decal in the window--"L" for learner, or "P" for provisional--so police would "know the driver's license status--and other drivers would know to be more aware of possible unexpected driving actions by young, inexperienced in·ex·pe·ri·ence n. 1. Lack of experience. 2. Lack of the knowledge gained from experience. in drivers." New Calls for Greater Restrictions on Teenage Drivers DISCUSSION QUESTIONS * Do you think it unreasonable for the law to restrict In the C programming language, the data pointed to by a pointer declared with the restrict qualifier may not be pointed to by any other pointer. This allows for more effective optimization. teenage driving? * Can you think of restrictions that apply to adults who operate machinery? * What punishment should be meted out Adj. 1. meted out - given out in portions apportioned, dealt out, doled out, parceled out distributed - spread out or scattered about or divided up to teens who break driving laws? TEACHING OBJECTIVES To help students understand the growing concern over teenage driving: specifically, what restrictions might be imposed on teen drivers to reduce the number of auto accidents in which they are involved. CLASSROOM STRATEGIES BEFORE READING: Ask how many students agree with policies that require training before a worker can operate complex, dangerous machinery? CRITICAL THINKING/DISCUSSION: Many teens will object to the proposed new limitations on their driving. But there are ways in which you can explain the reasons for the proposed new restrictions. First, direct attention to the statistics. Is there any reason to question the reliability of the data that show auto crashes account for 36 percent of teen deaths, as opposed op·pose v. op·posed, op·pos·ing, op·pos·es v.tr. 1. To be in contention or conflict with: oppose the enemy force. 2. to 2 percent of the general population? How would society react if those figures applied to some other form of activity? You might also address the issue of distraction Distraction Divination (See OMEN.) Porlock a “person from Porlock” interrupted Coleridge while he was recollecting the dream on which he based “Kubla Khan”. [Br. Lit.: Poems of Coleridge in Magill IV, 756] , mentioned in the restrictions on the proposed limitation on the number of teens allowed in a car at one time. The article does not mention it, but horseplay horse·play n. Rowdy or rough play. horseplay Noun rough or rowdy play Noun 1. does distract young drivers. Note that concerns about distraction while driving are not aimed specifically at teenagers. Tell students that many states and communities have outlawed the use of cell phones while driving because of the distractions they cause. (According to one study, the use of a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of driving while drunk.) Next, address the issue of graduated driver licensing. Read aloud this sentence in the first paragraph at the top of page 9: "The idea is that nothing improves driving as much as experience, and a driver's first few months of experience should be in low-risk conditions." Ask students to remove "driving" and insert skiing skiing, sport of sliding over snow on skis—long, narrow, flexible runners. Water skiing is a warm-weather sport in which a motor-propelled craft tows a skier through the water. , skateboarding skateboarding Form of recreation, popular among youths, in which a person rides standing balanced on a small board mounted on wheels. The skateboard first appeared in the early 1960s on paved areas along California beaches as a makeshift diversion for surfers when the ocean , parachuting, or diving diving Sport of plunging into water, usually headfirst and often following the execution of one or more acrobatic maneuvers. It emerged as a competitive sport in the late 19th century and became part of the Olympic Games in 1904. . Would they skydive sky·dive intr.v. sky·dived, sky·div·ing, sky·dives To jump and fall freely from an airplane, performing various maneuvers before pulling the ripcord of a parachute. or leap off a high board without instruction or practice? Web Watch: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offers graphs This partial list of graphs contains definitions of graphs and graph families which are known by particular names, but do not have a Wikipedia article of their own. For collected definitions of graph theory terms that do not refer to individual graph types, such as and tables on teen driving fatalities at www.iihs.org/safety_facts/fatality_facts /teens.htm.
Upfront QUIZ 1
MULTIPLE CHOICE > NATIONAL > PAGES 8-11
DIRECTIONS: Circle the letter next to the best answer.
1. Most states have slowed the process by which teens
win full driving privileges. The process is known as
a the extended-learning symposium.
b young driver probation.
c roadwise instruction.
d graduated driver licensing.
2. Name the agency that is urging Congress to adopt
uniform restrictions on young drivers in all states.
a Federal Aviation Agency.
b Highway Safety Group.
c National Transportation Safety Board.
d Institute for Safe Driving.
3. Proponents of the new restrictions want the minimum
age for learning to drive to be set at
a 15.
b 16.
c 17.
d 18.
4. Young drivers would go through a "holding period,"
during which their driving would be supervised by
a an adult driver.
b a department of motor-vehicles employee.
c a part-time police officer.
d a driving instructor.
5. A new restriction would limit the number of teen
passengers drivers below 18 could carry to
a one.
b two.
c three.
d four.
6. The safest drivers are between the ages of
a 21 and 25.
b 26 and 30.
c 30 and 59.
d 60 and 65.
Upfront Quiz 1, page 5
1. (d) graduated driver licensing
2. (c) National Transportation Safety
Board
3. (b) 16
4. (a) an adult driver
5. (a) one
6. (c) 30 and 59
LICENSING TEENS
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD RATES HOW WELL STATES
MEET ITS GUIDELINES: GOOD, ACCEPTABLE, MARGINAL, OR POOR
LEARNER STAGE
Minimum
NTSB Mandatory Hours of
Safety Minimum Holding Supervised
Jurisdiction Rating Age Period Driving
NTSB Proposal GOOD 16 6 months 30-50
Alabama ACCEPTABLE 15 6 months 30
Alaska MARGINAL 14 6 months None
Arizona POOR 15, 7 mo. 5 months 25
Arkansas MARGINAL 14 6 months None
California GOOD 15 6 months 50
Colorado ACCEPTABLE 15 6 months 50
Connecticut MARGINAL 16 6 months (4 mo. None
with driver ed)
Delaware ACCEPTABLE 15, 10 mo. 6 months None
District of
Columbia GOOD 16 6 months 40
Florida ACCEPTABLE 15 12 months 50
Georgia GOOD 15 12 months 40
Hawaii POOR 15 1/2 3 months None
Idaho MARGINAL 14 1/2 4 months 50
Illinois ACCEPTABLE 15 3 months 25
Indiana ACCEPTABLE 15 2 months None
Iowa ACCEPTABLE 14 6 months 20
Kansas POOR 14 None 50
Kentucky MARGINAL 16 6 months None
Louisiana ACCEPTABLE 15 3 months None
Maine ACCEPTABLE 15 3 months 35
Maryland ACCEPTABLE 15, 9 mo. 4 months 40
Massachusetts GOOD 16 6 months 12
Michigan ACCEPTABLE 14, 9 mo. 6 months 50
Minnesota MARGINAL 15 6 months 30
Mississippi MARGINAL 15 6 months None
Missouri ACCEPTABLE 15 6 months 20
Montana POOR 14 1/2 None None
Nebraska MARGINAL 15 None 50
Nevada MARGINAL 15 1/2 90 days 50
New Hampshire ACCEPTABLE 15 1/2 3 months 20
New Jersey GOOD 16 6 months None
New Mexico ACCEPTABLE 15 6 months 50
New York ACCEPTABLE 16 Up to 6 months 20
North Carolina ACCEPTABLE 15 12 months None
North Dakota MARGINAL 14 6 months None
Ohio ACCEPTABLE 15 1/2 6 months 50
Oklahoma POOR 15 1/2 None None
Oregon GOOD 15 6 months 50
Pennsylvania ACCEPTABLE 16 6 months 50
Rhode Island ACCEPTABLE 16 6 months None
South Carolina ACCEPTABLE 15 6 months 40
South Dakota MARGINAL 14 6 months (3 mo. None
with driver ed)
Tennessee GOOD 15 6 months 50
Texas ACCEPTABLE 15 6 months None
Utah ACCEPTABLE 15, 9 mo. None 30
Vermont ACCEPTABLE 15 1 year 40
Virginia GOOD 15 1/2 9 months 40
Washington GOOD 15 6 months 50
West Virginia ACCEPTABLE 15 6 months 30 (none If
driver ed
completed)
Wisconsin ACCEPTABLE 15 1/2 6 months 30
Wyoming POOR 15 10 days None
INTERMEDIATE STAGE
Unsupervised
Driving
Jurisdiction Minimum Age Prohibited
NTSB Proposal 16 1/2 9/10 p.m. - 5 a.m.
Alabama 16 Midnight - 6 a.m.
Alaska 16 No intermediate stage
Arizona 16 No intermediate stage
Arkansas no info Intermediate stage has no
passenger or night-driving
restrictions.
California 16 Midnight - 5 a.m.
Colorado 16 Midnight - 5 a.m.
Connecticut 16, 4 months No intermediate stage
Delaware 16, 4 months 9 p.m. - 6 a.m.
District of 16 1/2 Sept.-June: 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.
Columbia Su-Th, Midnight - 6 a.m. F-Sat.
July-Aug: Midnight - 6 a.m.
Florida 16 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. (age 16)
1 a.m. - 5 a.m. (age 17)
Georgia 16 Midnight - 6 a.m.
Hawaii 16 No intermediate stage
Idaho 15 Sunset to sunrise
Illinois 16 11 p.m. - 6 a.m. Sun.-Thurs.
Midnight - 6 a.m. Fri.-Sat.
11 p.m. - 5 a.m. Sun.-Fri.
Indiana 16, 1 month 1 a.m. - 5 a.m., Sat.-Sun.
Iowa 16 12:30 a.m. - 5 a.m.
Kansas 16 No Intermediate stage
Kentucky 16 1/2 No intermediate stage
Louisiana 16 11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
Maine 16 None
Maryland 16, 1 month Midnight - 5 a.m.
Massachusetts 16 1/2 Midnight - 5 a.m.
Michigan 16 Midnight - 5 a.m.
Minnesota 17 No intermediate stage
Mississippi 15 1/2 10 p.m. - 6 a.m.
Missouri 16 1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
Montana 15 No Intermediate stage
Nebraska 16 Midnight - 6 a.m.
Nevada 15, 9 months None
New Hampshire 16 1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
New Jersey 17 Midnight - 5 a.m.
New Mexico 15 1/2 Midnight - 5 a.m.
New York 16 1/2 9 p.m. - 5 a.m.
North Carolina 16 9 p.m. - 5 a.m.
North Dakota 16 No intermediate stage
Ohio 16 1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
Oklahoma 16 No Intermediate stage
Oregon 16 First yr.: Midnight - 5 a.m.
Pennsylvania 16 1/2 11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
Rhode Island 16 1/2 1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
South Carolina 15 1/2 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. EST
8 p.m. - 6 a.m. EDT
South Dakota 14 1/2 8 p.m. - 6 a.m.
(14, 3 months
with driver ed)
Tennessee 16 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.
Texas 16 Midnight - 5 a.m.
Utah 16 Midnight - 5 a.m.
Vermont 16 None
Virginia 16, 3 months Midnight - 4 a.m.
Washington 16 1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
West Virginia 16 11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
Wisconsin 16 Midnight - 5 a.m.
Wyoming 16 No intermediate stage
INTERMEDIATE STAGE
Minimum Age at Which
Passenger Nighttime Restriction
Jurisdiction Restriction May Be Lifted
NTSB Proposal Yes 18
Alabama No 17 1/2
Alaska No None
Arizona No None
Arkansas No None
California Yes 17
Colorado No 17
Connecticut No None
Delaware Yes 16, 10 months
District of
Columbia Yes 18
Florida No 18
Georgia Yes 18
Hawaii No None
Idaho No 16
Illinois No 17
Indiana Yes 18
Iowa No 17
Kansas No None
Kentucky No None
Louisiana Yes 17
Maine Yes None
Maryland No 17, 7 months
Massachusetts Yes 18
Michigan No 17
Minnesota No None
Mississippi No 16
Missouri No 18
Montana No None
Nebraska No 17
Nevada Yes None
New Hampshire Yes 18
New Jersey Yes 18
New Mexico Yes 16 1/2
New York Yes 17 (18 without driver ed)
North Carolina Yes 16 1/2
North Dakota No None
Ohio No 17
Oklahoma No None
Oregon Yes 17
Pennsylvania No 17 (18 without driver ed)
Rhode Island No 17 1/2
South Carolina Yes 16 1/2
South Dakota No 16
Tennessee Yes 17
Texas Yes 16 1/2
Utah Yes 17
Vermont Yes None
Virginia Yes 18
Washington Yes 17
West Virginia Yes 17
Wisconsin Yes 16, 9 months
Wyoming No None
MATTHEW Matthew one of the twelve disciples. [N.T.: Matthew] See : Evangelism L. WALD covers transportation for The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times. |
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