DMV Commissioner Announces Newest Efforts Aimed At Young Driver Safety

ALBANY, NY (10/20/2008)(readMedia)-- Commissioner David J. Swarts of the New York State Department of MotorVehicles (DMV) today announced the agency's newest efforts to improve young driversafety. A new program called the "Teen Electronic Event Notification Service" or "TEENS" has been launched, in conjunction with national Teen Driver Safety Week, which runs from October 19-25.

The TEENS program allows a parent or guardian to voluntarily sign up fornotification of any conviction, reportable accident, suspension or revocation that appearson a minor's driving record. The notification by the DMV would be made by mail to theparent or guardian. Parents and guardians can enroll in this program by downloading anenrollment form from the DMV website or obtaining a form from the local DMV officeand mailing the completed form to the DMV's Office for the Younger Driver. Upon theyounger driver's eighteenth birthday, participation in the program will automaticallyterminate as the younger driver no longer needs parental consent.

The Commissioner also announced the availability of new informational materials for young drivers and their parents or guardians. These new educational brochures are entitled, "Teen Driver Safety Tips" and "Graduated Driver Licensing Program for Teen Drivers." The Teen Driver Safety Tips brochure is aimed at young drivers and provides valuable information on the correct and safe way to operate on our highways. TheGraduated Driver License Program brochure is aimed primarily at adults with a youngd river in order to properly educate the parent or guardian of the proper rules and regulations regarding the Graduated Driver License Program in upstate New York.

"Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of people ages 16 to 24 years old.These are just the latest initiatives the DMV has undertaken in order to improve the safety of our young drivers" said Commissioner Swarts. "By aggressively moving forward with innovative programs such as these and finding solutions to problems faced by our less-experienced motorists, we are improving the safety of all highway users and making younger drivers better motorists."

In 2006, more than 200 young drivers in New York State died in automobile crashes, and more than 26,000 were injured. Alarmingly, for those drivers aged 16-24, the leading causes of crashes were due to excessive speed and driver distraction.

These are just the latest efforts undertaken by the Department of Motor Vehicles aimed at increasing safety for young drivers. Last year, Commissioner Swarts announced the creation of an Office for the Younger Driver within the DMV. Since then, researchhas been conducted regarding the national and international data about younger drivers in an attempt to better understand the public safety issues faced by young drivers. Last spring, to coincide with prom and graduation season, and in conjunction with the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, a public awareness campaign entitled, "Didn't See That Coming" was launched. The effort included television and radio commercials aswell as billboards across the state reminding our younger drivers that inattentive andunsafe driving can have unexpected fatal consequences. Since then, posters have been developed for distribution, along with other supporting materials that continue to send this message to the state's younger drivers.

Commissioner Swarts, along with the State Education Department CommissionerRichard Mills, co-chair a temporary special advisory panel on driver educationavailability and curriculum enhancement, and recently participated in a public forumdesigned to solicit public input from teens, parents, educators, driver educationinstructors, law enforcement and community members. The panel is assessing the driver education program and making recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on how to improve driver education and ensure that instruction is more available anddevelopmentally appropriate. There is another forum scheduled for November 5thin West Seneca.

Further, the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee recently purchased, with federal grant funds, a driving simulator. The simulator will be taken across the state tomany venues in which young drivers can test their ability to operate a motor vehicleunder various conditions. These simulated exercises will help young drivers learn about the hazards of driving in certain weather and operating conditions as well as learningabout the very serious effects of driving while impaired.

The Department of Motor Vehicles is also planning a new website designed specifically for young drivers and their parent or guardian. The site will have a bold and creative look and feel and will allow the young driver and parent to easily navigate the site to view safety topics and motor vehicle laws and regulations.

For more information on these and other highways safety issues, please visit:nysdmv.com or safeny.com.

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