Sen. Brady sponsoring teen driving safety legislation

[JAN. 27, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) has always been aware of the need for extra safety measures for young drivers, but when he learned of the deaths of 15 young people in just 15 months in Tazewell County alone, he decided to make drivers' safety a top priority during the coming year.

Sen. Brady is sponsoring teen driving safety legislation unveiled by Secretary of State Jesse White during press conferences Jan. 24 in Chicago and Springfield.

"As they say, all politics are local. One of the reasons I became so involved in this and began discussing my interest in this issue with Secretary White has to do with the fact that I represent the greater part of Tazewell County, where 15 young adults have lost their lives in traffic fatalities over a period of 15 months," Sen. Brady said. "This is a serious issue that needs serious attention. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this legislation and look forward to working with the Secretary to make Illinois the best state in the nation when it comes to preparing our youth for the privileges of driving in their later years."

Based on recommendations by a Teen Driver Safety Task Force formed by Secretary White last summer, the legislation will strengthen the state's Graduated Driver Licensing program for young drivers.

"This legislation, based on the recommendations of my task force, is proof of what can be accomplished when you put together a group of intelligent, caring individuals with a strong desire to solve a problem," Secretary White said. "But the greater result of their effort will be a reduction in fatal crashes involving teen drivers in Illinois when these recommendations become law."

The legislation includes the following provisions:

• Extend the permit phase from three months to nine months.

• Shift the nighttime driving restriction from 11:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and from midnight to 11:00 p.m. on weekends for all drivers younger than 18 and those who fail to graduate from the initial licensing phase. Exemptions will be provided for school-sponsored activities and work.

• Double the period -- from six months to 12 months -- that restricts a new driver to a maximum of one unrelated teen passenger.

• Ticket the passengers age 15 to 20, in addition to the drivers, who violate the passenger restriction law.

• Require student drivers to complete a minimum six hours of actual, on-the-street driving with a certified driver education instructor.

• Implement a true Graduated Driver Licensing system that requires new drivers to earn their way from one stage to the next.

• A stricter law in which the drivers' licenses of those under age 21 would be suspended for each additional conviction following a driver's initial suspension for two moving violations in a 24-month period.

• Require drivers younger than 18 who are ticketed for traffic violations to appear before a judge with a parent or guardian to receive court supervision. Also requires the attendance of traffic school as a requisite for court supervision for drivers younger than 21.

• Establish tough, new penalties -- including license revocation and vehicle impoundment -- for drivers who are involved in street racing.

Secretary White's task force, composed of legislators, traffic safety experts, law enforcement officials, educators, judges and victim advocates, held three public hearings in Springfield, Carterville and Chicago to study proposals aimed at keeping teen drivers safe.

"I want to compliment the Task Force on its hard work in moving Illinois into the forefront of establishing the most productive and effective driver's license program for our teens," Sen. Brady said.

The legislation has been drafted and awaits introduction in the Illinois Senate.

(Text copied from file received from Illinois Senate Republicans)