Commissioner of DMV Launches Young Driver Web Site

ALBANY, NY (05/01/2009)(readMedia)-- Commissioner David J. Swarts of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and Chair of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today announced the launch of the Department's young driver web site also being called "Resources for the Younger Driver." The announcement was made at the Onondaga County Traffic Safety Fair held today at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse. Entitled "Teens: Behind the Wheel" the fair was sponsored by the Onondaga Traffic Safety Advisory Board and Partners.

"The Department has been working diligently to ensure that our young drivers are fully prepared to take on the responsibility of driving and that they are safe behind the wheel," Commissioner Swarts said. "This web site is one more step in the process of providing new drivers and their parents with additional and helpful resources. The DMV is confident the site will be appealing and educational for our young drivers."

The web site, designed specifically with new drivers and their guardians in mind, features information on the Graduated Driver License law, current permit and license restrictions, and passenger restrictions, among other sections of the law. It also features safety and educational sections on how to apply for a license, schedule a road test and even a section on training for a road test that includes a practice exam. There is a link for parents featuring helpful tips, information on the Teen Electronic Notification Services (TEENS) program and a parent/teen contract to encourage safe driving habits.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among young people ages 16-24. The majority of crashes occur during the first six months of licensed driving when young, inexperienced drivers have not yet adequately developed key driving skills and habits such as: driving attention, visual search strategies, speed relative to conditions, hazard recognition and emergency maneuvers.

Young drivers account for only 12 percent of all drivers, yet they constitute 20 percent of drivers involved in crashes. 16 and 17 year olds are three times more likely to be involved in a crash than the rest of the driving population. From 2004 to 2006, 32 percent of all fatalities occurred in crashes that involved drivers ages 16-24. In 2006, more than 200 young drivers in New York State died in automobile crashes, and more than 26,000 were injured. In addition to the young drivers who were killed or injured, there were 250 other fatalities and more than 41,000 other injured people as a result of crashes involving young drivers. The societal cost of young driver crashes is estimated to be $1.16 billion annually in New York State.

For more information, please visit the Resources for the Younger Drivers web site at www.nysdmv.com/youngerdriver/ or nysdmv.com.

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