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Youth

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Push for Stricter Teen Driver Laws Amid Concerns Over Safety

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A recent statewide survey commissioned by Allstate Insurance Co. found that nearly 60 percent of Pennsylvanians support tougher laws for junior driver's license holders, while nearly three in four believe that passenger limits should be set for teen drivers. The poll, conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, was in support of House Bill 9, which aims to upgrade the state's Graduated Driver's License (GDL) law. The proposed legislation would require expanded training before teens can test for their licenses, increase behind-the-wheel training at night and during inclement weather, and impose passenger limits on teen drivers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nearly 60 percent of Pennsylvanians polled support tougher laws for junior driver's license holders, while nearly three in four believe that passenger limits should be set for teen drivers.
  • The proposed legislation, House Bill 9, aims to upgrade the state's Graduated Driver's License (GDL) law by requiring expanded training before teens can test for their licenses.
  • The bill would increase behind-the-wheel training at night and during inclement weather, and impose passenger limits on teen drivers, limiting the number of teen passengers to one.
  • Only 7 percent of poll participants strongly oppose increasing expanded training, while 70 percent believe that police officers should be able to pull over and fine teen drivers aged 17 years and younger if they and any passengers under age 18 are not buckled up.
  • The survey found that nearly half of respondents believe that crashes from distracted drivers are one of the biggest threats to public safety on roads and highways today.
  • States that have updated their GDL laws report as much as a 40 percent drop in the number of fatal crashes among 16-year-old drivers.

Statistics:

  • 58 percent of Pennsylvanians polled believe that current laws are inadequate, while 34 percent think they are sufficient.
  • 70 percent of those polled believe that police officers should be able to pull over and fine teen drivers aged 17 years and younger if they and any passengers under age 18 are not buckled up.
  • The poll consisted of a sample size of 750 registered voters across the state, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.58 percent.
  • Teen driver and peer passenger deaths account for one-quarter of total teen deaths nationwide, and teen drivers have fatal crashes at four times the rate of adult drivers.
  • Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers.

Sources:

  • Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Republican Caucus
  • Susquehanna Polling and Research
  • Allstate Insurance Co.

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