Congressman Seeks National Restrictions On Teen Driving

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- A freshman west suburban congressman is seeking bipartisan support for nationwide restrictions on teen drivers that mirror changes Illinois made to its driving laws in 2007.

"We've seen a dramatic decrease in the number of teen [driving] deaths" since Illinois enacted its graduated licensing law, said Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.), who is the chief GOP sponsor of the bill.

Hultgren said the current laws amount to a patchwork. He said he wants to establish minimum standards that include:

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-A three-stage licensing process that consists of a learner's permit, followed by an intermediate stage license and finally an unrestricted driver's license;

- A ban on nighttime driving in the learner's permit or intermediate stages;

- Restrictions limiting those with learner's permits and intermediate-stage licenses to no more than one non-family member under the age of 21 unless a licensed driver over the age of 21 is in the vehicle;

- A ban on the use of cell phones while driving in any form by those holding learner's permits and intermediate-stage licenses;

- Student drivers must hold a learner's permit for a minimum of six months and an intermediate-stage license for at least six additional months;

- A minimum of 30 hours of driving supervised by a driver age 21 or over, and

- Full licensing at age 18 if a teen's record is clean, but an automatic delay if the student driver is convicted of driving under the influence, misrepresenting true age, reckless driving, un-belted driving, speeding or other violations as determined by law enforcement.

Hultgren cited National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics showing that more than 90,000 people died in motor vehicle accidents involving teen drivers nationally between 1999 and 2009, an average of 155 a week.

He said about half of the states already comply with the minimum standards set in the law. Those that fail to comply, should the bill become law, would lose a percentage of their federal highway funding.

The legislation has the backing of National Safety Council victim advocate Charlene Sligting-Doud, whose father died when a teenage driver on a cell phone, out after curfew, rolled through a stop sign and hit his motorcycle.

"This law will keep the roadways safer for everyone involved," she said.

Hultgren said most of his co-sponsors so far are Democrats; he said he is hoping to line up additional GOP support.