Safety-Driven or Merely Rule-Bound?

With the Teen Driver Safety Act of 1997 scheduled to take effect July 1, many 15- and 16-year-olds are racing to get their permits before the end of the month.

Among the provisions teens are trying to beat:

* The time drivers younger than 18 must hold a learner’s permit will go from 30 days to six months, during which parents must spend 50 hours driving with their child--10 of those at night. Current regulations mandate 30 hours total.

* For six months after obtaining a provisional license, teens may not carry a passenger younger than 20 without a person older than 25 in the car.

* With exceptions made for work, school and emergencies, teens must wait a full year after obtaining a provisional license before they can drive between midnight and 5 a.m. without an adult.

Proponents of the law, citing DMV statistics indicating 16-year-olds are 5.4 times more likely to be at fault in a fatal or injury accident, say the regulations are needed to ensure road safety for everyone. Many teens argue that the law is unreasonable, discriminatory and simply unfair.

MICHAEL BAKER asked a 16-year-veteran driving instructor, a teenage boy and his mother what they think about the new law.

RAHIM MAHBOOB / Owner and operation manager, Technique Driving and Traffic School, Encino

The rules that they passed are excellent. I think that a teen sitting behind the wheel really needs more practice because they don’t have enough experience.

The law will probably bring down the accident rate because of the extra time before the teens are out on their own. They don’t have the experience of driving late at night and they get into a lot of accidents. It’s just not safe.

I think they could have even added some things, for instance more time driving on the freeway. There is so much freeway driving in Los Angeles teens need more experience with how to enter, how to exit and how to change lanes.

It’s really important for the kids to understand why we have the new restrictions, but at their age it’s hard. Parents are always concerned about their children because they are worried about their safety. There is no prejudice against them, and they should just understand that at that age their safety is a major concern.

MATTHEW MILLER / 15, Van Nuys

I think the new law is a good concept but it’s going a little bit too far by adding too many unreasonable restrictions on teenagers.

I can understand the nighttime driving laws because a lot of accidents happen at that time, so it’s all right not to be able to drive past midnight. When you’re a teen, you’re not supposed to be out that late anyway. There are a lot of teens not obeying the law and stuff and that don’t really care about safety.

But adding all the restrictions on, and all the requirements, is hurting people’s freedom. Good driving is a matter of experience and not age. The restrictions are prejudiced against young people.

Driving is a matter of maturity and not particularly how old you are. A lot of 15-year-olds are more mature than 18-year-olds. You have to know what your limits are, and the only way you can figure out is driving by yourself.

HEIDI ROBERTSON / Matthew’s mother and UCLA student studying personal financial planning, Van Nuys

I’m very much in favor of the law because I think it’s a safety issue. I believe the statistics that teens driving with teens at night is a combination for disaster, and I’m delighted that the state has taken appropriate action against it.

I absolutely don’t mind putting in the extra driving hours with my son, and I hope every parent feels the same way. I will feel better knowing my son has the extra time behind the wheel and will be safer out on the road.

I know that a lot of teens have a problem with the law, but that’s tough. They need to get real and get started with lessons now so they will be prepared when they hit the road.

My son’s getting in before July 1, but I as a parent will enforce the post-July 1 rules.

He doesn’t know it yet, but I guess I’m a tough mom. It really just is a safety issue and will make me feel better in the long run.