Governor Signs Teenage Driver Safety Act, Increasing Driving Limitations on Teens
Phoenix, AZ, May 14, 2007 - AAA Arizona is proud to announce that today Governor Napolitano signed HB 2033, the Teenage Driver Safety Act, into law. The bill will go into effect on July 1, 2008.
With the enactment of the legislation, Arizona is joining 45 other states that have established intermediate programs for new teen drivers. Under the new law, new teen drivers for the first six months of receiving their drivers’ license will have restrictions on nighttime driving, limiting the amount of teen passengers in a car, and adding more hours of instructional driving before an unrestricted driver’s license can be obtained.
The legislation is a balanced approach to traffic safety, with the nighttime driving restrictions providing reasonable exemptions for employment, school and religious activities and family emergencies. Likewise, the passenger limitations do not apply to siblings.
Prior to the enactment of Teenage Driver Safety Act, Arizona was one of only five states without an intermediate teen driver program. States that have adopted this approach have seen reductions in teen-related incidents by as much as 30 percent.
“This bill was brought to me by a constituent whose niece died in an accident where there was a car full of kids and the sixteen year old driver was distracted,” said Senator Barbara Leff, one of the bill’s key sponsors. “This law will not bring Hannah back but hopefully it will save the life of someone else's child.”
From a regional perspective, the states of California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah have all established similar restrictions on their new teen drivers.
“Today represents the final step in the long journey towards passing this crucial piece of legislation,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs manager for AAA Arizona. “AAA would like to thank the bill’s legislative sponsors for recognizing the importance of the issue and for their tireless efforts towards passage of this bill. In addition, we want to thank the members of the coalition who lent their support every step of the way.”
The legislation enjoyed the support of three key sponsors, Senators Barbara Leff and Ron Gould and House Majority Whip, Representative John McComish. The legislation received bipartisan support with a 21-6 vote in the Senate and 50-7 vote in the House.
“I am pleased that Arizona has joined many other states in protecting the safety of youthful drivers and all motorists on the road,” stated Senator Gould. Representative McComish added, “I am convinced that lives in Arizona will be saved once this bill becomes law.”
AAA Arizona led a coalition of 27 agencies and organizations who joined in support of HB 2033, including law enforcement, public-safety advocates, the insurance industry, medical and hospital organizations and child-safety advocates, among others.
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the Teenage Driver Safety Act, visit http://www.aaaaz.com/news/documents/TDSAFAQs.pdf
AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 750,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
