New law aims to make teen drivers safer

New driver safety laws taking effect in New York require far more training for teenagers seeking their licenses.

The laws increase the number of hours teens must drive before getting their licenses, prohibits youths from getting a license until at least six months after they receive their driving permit, and allows only one nonfamily passenger in a car driven by a teenager if a parent or guardian isn’t in the vehicle.

The Buffalo News reports that that car crashes are the top cause of death for Americans 16 to 20 years old.

The laws that kick in Monday carry new penalties, including suspending the license of offenders.

Similar measures had been stalled for years in the Legislature. The laws were approved last summer after a string of fatal crashes involving teenagers.

As of February 22 the following changes to New York's Licensing Laws will affect student drivers:

• A reduction from two to one of the number of non-family passengers under age the 21 required to be present when the car is being being driven by a junior license holder.
   
• The elimination of the limited use junior license and require that a junior permit be held for 6 month before a junior or senior license may be issued.
   
• Increase the number of supervised driving hours before scheduling a road test from 20 to 50 hours, that includes 15 hours of driving after sunset.