Commission will study teenage driving in N.J.

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Gov. Jon Corzine came to Marlboro High School on March 14 to sign a bill creating a special commission that will study issues related to teenage drivers in New Jersey.

MARLBORO - On March 14, Gov. Jon S. Corzine ceremonially signed legislation establishing the Teenage Driver Safety Study Commission to study, examine and review the issue of teenage driver safety in New Jersey.

"Out of the challenges we face comes the opportunity to make important changes," said Corzine, who spoke at Marlboro High School. "It is my hope that this commission will help ensure our youth are better prepared to take on the responsibilities of a driver's license and improve the safety of our roads."

The bill (A-617) was sponsored in the Assembly by assemblymen Joseph R. Malone III (R-Monmouth, Ocean, Burling-ton, Mercer) and John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). The bill was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-Mon-mouth and Mercer). Corzine officially signed the legislation on March 8.

The commission will be required to:

+ Study and evaluate the availability and effectiveness of driving education and training programs for New Jersey's teenagers;

+ Survey and assess the problems of driving under the influence and aggressive driving among teenagers;

+ Consider and evaluate the role and utilization of defensive driving and accident prevention programs;

+ Examine and analyze the types of violations that are contributing factors in teenage driving accidents;

+ Address any other issues that the commission believes should be reviewed or considered.

"In light of the tragedies that have affected all of our lives, I believe that this commission, which is a follow-up to the graduated driver law, will help us to identify critical teen driving safety issues that need to be addressed to keep our roads safe and to protect our children," Malone said.

Karcher said, "We need to take a comprehensive approach to ensure the safety of our kids behind the wheel, and decrease the prevalence of teen driver accidents in the Garden State."

The commission is to complete its work within six months, reporting its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the governor and to the Legislature.