House Republican Press Release

July 25, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. FREY REMINDS RESIDENTS REGARDING NEW STATE TEEN DRIVING LAW

RIDGEFIELD- Rep. John H. Frey today reminded Ridgefielders that a new state law establishing new teen driving requirements goes into effect on August 1^st, 2008.

“The heavy increase in tragic traffic deaths caused by inexperienced or reckless teen drivers has demonstrated a clear need to make significant changes to the way we teach and license teens to drive,” said Frey.  “Statistics as well as the headlines show that these first years as drivers are the most dangerous in a driver’s life.  We need to take a measured approach to instructing teens, involving parents, and making penalties strict.”

The new law would increase the amount of behind the wheel, on the road training 16- and 17-year olds must complete before qualifying for a drivers license.

• Sets tougher mandatory drivers license suspensions for 16- and 17-year old drivers who violate certain traffic laws; and extend the passenger restrictions that currently apply to 16- and 17-year-olds after they are licensed from the first six months after being licensed to a full year.
• Beginning at 11 p.m., 16- or 17-year-olds cannot drive except for employment, religious, school-related or certain other purposes.
• The new law increases from 20 to 40 hours the amount of behind-the-wheel, on-the-road training a 16- or 17-year-old must get before qualifying for licensure.

• For 16- or 17-year-olds issued learners' permits, the law requires a parent or guardian to attend two hours of instruction on teen driving laws and related issues with the child before the teen can take the license test.

For information please visit the Department of Motor Vehicle’s website: http://www.ct.gov/teendriving/cwp/view.asp?Q=413528&A=3369

John Frey serves the 111th Assembly District of Ridgefield in the state House of Representatives.