New commission would study teen driving issues

A bill which would establish a Teen-age Driver Safety Study Commis-sion to make recommendations to improve teen driver safety awaits Gov. Jon Corzine's signature.

The bill was approved in the state Senate with a 40-0 vote on Jan. 25. It was sponsored by Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-Monmouth and Mercer).

"Recently, a tragic and fatal accident involving Freehold teenagers has underscored the need to examine the safety issues that affect teen drivers across the board," said Karcher (D-Monmouth and Mercer). "As a mother of a teen driver, my heart goes out to the family of the teens killed in Freehold, as well as the family members and friends of everyone who died in the accident. We must do everything in our power so that fatal crashes like the one in Freehold are far less frequent."

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth and Mercer) sponsored the companion bill in the Assembly, which was approved with an 80-0 vote in June.

"The recent tragedy in Freehold involving a teen driver in which four people lost their lives is a reminder that we can never be too vigilant in making certain that every effort is made to ensure the safety of all drivers, especially our least experienced ones. This commission will help us to identify critical safety issues that need to be addressed."

A message left at the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office seeking an update into the investigation of the Jan. 10 accident in Freehold Township was not returned.

According to a press release from Karcher, the bill that Corzine is expected to sign into law would create the 15-member Teenage Driver Safety Study Commission to review specific dangers for younger drivers.

The commission would be directed to review the availability and effectiveness of driving education and training programs, assess the problems of drunk driving and aggressive driving in younger drivers, evaluate the effectiveness of defensive driving and accident-prevention programs, and analyze the type of motor vehicle violations that are contributing factors to teenage driving accidents.

The commission would also look closely at the effectiveness of New Jersey's teenage graduated driver's license program, which was implemented in 2002, according to the press release.

"I hope that the commission will leave no stone unturned in its review of the hazards and safety programs which come into play for teen drivers," said Karcher. "The commission will include experts from the automotive, insurance and public safety sectors, and will make necessary safety recommendations for policymakers to implement. With the expertise of the commission and the full cooperation of the Legislature, we can make a difference in road safety for our youngest drivers."

She added, "I think if parents play a bigger role in recognizing whether their kids are ready for the responsibilities of a driver's license, we will be able to have an impact. I think there is an immense pressure on parents to grant their kids independence, through a driver's license, without them being ready for the added responsibilities of the road. Sometimes, we have to be the bad guys in order to protect our kids' safety."

Jason Butkowski, a spokesman for Karcher, said Corzine was supportive of the bill as it advanced in the Legislature and it is hoped that he will sign the legislation to create the commission.