| For many years, NHTSA has been encouraging | | | | |
| the States to strengthen their laws and | | | | In its current form, the legislation does not |
| programs dealing with youth traffic safety. | | | | have as one of its eligibility criteria for |
| Despite these efforts, progress toward major | | | | the grant program a provision that would |
| changes in State laws has been relatively | | | | reward a State for enacting a nighttime |
| slow. Only about five States have implemented | | | | curfew for young, inexperienced drivers under |
| the comprehensive mix of laws and programs | | | | the age of 18. Such a restriction would |
| that appear to be necessary to effectively | | | | require the provisional licensee to have an |
| deal with traffic safety problems of youth | | | | adult present in the front seat during |
| and to reduce the youth traffic fatality rate | | | | specified hours. Some might argue that such a |
| substantially below its current level. | | | | restriction would be cumbersome. State |
| | | | licensing agencies, however, have |
| Legislation should be properly structured and | | | | successfully implemented curfew programs for |
| implemented, as the resulting Federal/State | | | | specified drivers, whilech grant limited |
| partnership would promote a comprehensive and | | | | exceptions for very specific conditions on a |
| vigorous national program that could | | | | case-by-case basis. Although concerns |
| substantially reduce traffic fatalities | | | | regarding civil liberties of youth may be |
| involving youth. This could be funded out of | | | | raised, experience shows that such curfews |
| general revenues or out of the Federal | | | | saves lives and surveys show that such |
| Highway Trust Fund. Either way, the cost | | | | curfews are appreciated by many. |
| would be roughly $20 million a year. If | | | | |
| funded out of the Trust Fund, this program | | | | If we are going to simultaneously promote |
| would slightly increase competition for funds | | | | traffic safety and provide for the mobility |
| from the Fund, which is currently tapped for | | | | of older Americans, we need to learn a great |
| about $20 billion annually. There are, | | | | deal more about how declining physical and |
| however, unused contract authorities and | | | | mental abilities affect driving and how to |
| funds in the 1991 Highway Act and in other | | | | relate this information to licensing |
| laws that could be redirected to pay for this | | | | decisions. |
| new program. | | | | |
| | | | Over the next 10 years, the proposed older |
| Does this expenditure make sense? The CRS | | | | driver program could provide much of this |
| report on the younger driver issue, which you | | | | knowledge. This information would help State |
| have before you, projected that the benefits | | | | agencies make more informed licensing |
| in reducing the medical and societal costs oi | | | | decisions, lead to improved guidelines to be |
| losing and injuring thousands of yoimg people | | | | used by concerned families and physicians, |
| each year in traffic crashes would outweigh | | | | and assist older drivers in making better |
| likely program costs by at least a factor of | | | | decisions about their own driving practices |
| 10. | | | | and future license. |