Teen Driving: DMV Report Sees Improvement

Teenage drivers are crashing less, according to a report issued by the state Department of Motor Vehicles on the third anniversary of the state toughening its teen driving laws.

The report points to a progressive downward trend in overall crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers, coupled with data showing a steady decline in the number of this age group obtaining licenses, despite their numbers remaining relatively constant. In addition, convictions for most teen-driving related offenses continue to fall.

“This is an issue that affects the safety of all of us and our families, and it is very encouraging to see such positive results,” Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman said in a press release issued Tuesday. “We know there is no magic bullet to prevent all crashes, but the push to educate young drivers and enforce stricter driving laws is proving to be an effective tool that can help save lives.”

DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey added, “These numbers demonstrate improvement we like to see, but there’s always more work to do in this area of educating teens about safe driving.”  (To view the entire report, click here.

The annual report highlights the following:

• Overall crashes are down by 28 percent when comparing 2007 to 2009, the latest figures from the state Department of Transportation for crashes in which 16 or 17 year-old drivers’ were determined to be the contributing factor.
• Fatal crashes regardless of fault involving a 16- or 17-year-old driver numbered nine in 2010 remaining below an historic 13 per-year from 2005 through 2008 the year the new laws began.
• Convictions for cell phone use and distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence (per se), and failure to wear a seat belt or having more passenger than seat belts, all show a downward trend
• Most noticeably the number of 16 and 17 year-olds holding licenses has continued to decrease, despite their statewide population remaining stable since 2008 when the laws were enacted. Safety advocates say both the tough laws and poor economy play major roles and make this beneficial for Connecticut’s progress. For comparison, in 2001 the 16-year-old licensing rate was 42 percent. For 17 year-olds, the licensing rate was 64 percent.
• Three-year statistics and growth for the DMV teen safe driving video contest, offered with Travelers as corporate sponsor, show continued success, including a 100-percent increase - to 164  - in videos submitted this year by teens from around the state.
• More than 1,060 students have participated during the entire three years the contest has run. The DMV Center for Teen Safe Driving’s YouTube site featuring these videos has logged more than 43,000 views of them.
• Mourning Parents Act, an organization of bereaved parents, reported holding 37 separate forums on teen safe driving, primarily at high schools and reaching approximately 17,500 teens and parents.
• Yale-New Haven Hospital reported that nine Connecticut high schools have participated in its anti-texting campaign that has reached 9,000 teens.
• Connecticut Children’s Medical Center reported that more than 400 teens made use of its driving simulators last year. The simulators will be made available later this year to schools and agencies across the state for placement through a loaner program.

A series of high-profile crashes in 2007 triggered an intensive nine-month public awareness and law-changing campaign aimed at these youngest and most inexperienced drivers on Connecticut roads and highways. New laws enacted in 2008 brought longer periods of passenger restrictions, an 11 p.m. curfew time, stiffer penalties for violations, extended training requirements and a mandated parent-teen information session about safe driving.