Graduated Licenses and Reductions in Teen Car Accident Deaths

 Posted on December 05, 2017 in Personal Injury

Do graduated licenses help to reduce teen car accident deaths in DuPage County and throughout the state of Illinois? According to a recent article in the chtribune, since 2007—shortly before the state instituted its graduated license program—rates of teen car crash deaths have declined by more than 50 percent. That data comes from the Illinois Secretary of State office, and experts cite the graduated license program as the reason for fewer traffic fatalities involving teen drivers in the state.

What should you know about current teen car accident fatalities and the graduated license requirements under Illinois law?

Teen Motor Vehicle Death Rates Decline By Half in the Last Decade

In 2008, Illinois began requiring teens to abide by graduated licensing laws. According to a recent statement from Secretary of State Jesse White, the graduated license program should receive much of the credit for the stark reduction in teen motor vehicle deaths over the last 10 years.

In 2016, there were 76 teen car accident fatalities in Illinois affecting teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19. In 2007, that figure was more than doubled as 155 teen deaths occurred in traffic collisions involving a teen driver. With the implementation of the graduated licensing laws, the Illinois Department of Transportation immediately began seeing results. Indeed, a year after the program was implemented, the number of teen deaths in car crashes was recorded at 93. One year later, there were a total of 79 teen fatalities in motor vehicle accidents.

Although most if not all of the 76 teen car accident deaths that occurred in 2016 could have been prevented, it is important, according to White, to take some relief in recognizing that the graduated licensing laws appear to be having an important and noticeable effect.

Learning More About the Graduated License Law in Illinois

When we talk about graduated licensing laws, what do we mean specifically? Under Illinois law (625 ILCS 5/6-107), the Graduated Licensing Program is intended to “develop safe and mature driving habit in young, inexperienced drivers and reduce or prevent motor vehicle accidents, fatalities, and injuries.” The graduated license requirements include but are not limited to:

• Increasing the amount of time between when a teen driver can begin practicing her driving with the help of a licensed adult driver and when the teen can obtain a driver’s license;
• Strengthening the driver’s licensing testing standards for younger drivers who are under the age of 21; and
• Taking away drivers’ privileges (for drivers under the age of 21) when those drivers commit serious traffic violations and other specific offenses.

In addition, the graduated licensing requirements limit the number of hours of night driving a teen can do, and they prohibit any driver under the age of 19 from using a cell phone while driving, even if it is a hands-free device.

Learn More About Filing a Car Accident Claim

Do you have questions about filing a car accident claim? A skilled DuPage County car accident attorney can speak with you today about your case. Contact Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices for more information about the services we provide to residents of Lombard and throughout DuPage County.