Driver's Ed Again?
Parents May Have To Take Classes With Their Teen Kids
By SUSAN HAIGH
Associated Press Writer
March 8, 2008
Parents could soon be required to attend part of their teenagers' driver training classes.
The legislature's transportation committee voted 31-0 in favor of a package of teen driving reforms on Friday, including a proposal that mandates a parent or guardian to attend two of the eight hours of required training for teen drivers.
Sen. Donald DeFronzo, D-New Britain, the committee's co-chairman, said the idea might be controversial. But he said many parents don't understand the rules for young drivers, such as limits on when they can drive or how many people can ride with them in the car.
"What we've heard a lot from parents is that they're not familiar enough with the restrictions. They know there's some restrictions, but they're not quite sure. It's fuzzy, so we want to make sure parents are part of that process."
Whether teens learn to drive at home or through a driving school, the state currently mandates them to attend an eight-hour class on alcohol and drug use. DeFronzo said the bill would require the motor vehicles commissioner to change the curriculum and add a two-hour section for parents and teens. They'd learn about the dangers of teen driving, various restrictions and penalties on the books, the graduated license process, and the role parents can play in making sure their kids drive safely.
Under the bill, before teens take the Department of Motor Vehicles driver's test, they would have to prove that their parent or guardian took the two-hour course.
"I think it's going to seem to a lot of people to be a fairly intrusive step, but it is a very significant time in the teenager's life and a very significant point in the parent's life," DeFronzo said. "You don't turn over this kind of responsibility but maybe once in a lifetime to a child, so this is something I think all parents ought to be sensitive to."
The bill that passed Friday is a combination of proposals from Gov. M. Jodi Rell's task force on teen driving, as well as recommendations from state legislators, members of the medical profession and others. It awaits further action in the House of Representatives.
The legislation stems from a number of deadly crashes involving teen drivers in recent months, including one in Wolcott that left the 17-year-old driver, his 14-year-old sister and her 15-year-old friend dead.
"I can't help but think about all the destroyed lives over the years because this legislative body did not take action early enough to address this issue," said Rep. Steven Mikutel, D-Griswold.
The bill enables police to confiscate teen drivers' licenses if they are caught speeding 20 mph over the speed limit, driving recklessly, street racing or driving while intoxicated. An officer could also suspend the teen's license for 48 hours if he or she violates any teen driver restriction. A parent or guardian would have to accompany the teen driver to reclaim their license.
It also increases existing penalties for teens who violate certain restrictions, including license suspension after one violation. It changes the curfew for teen drivers from midnight to 11 p.m., extends passenger restrictions, and expands the seat-belt requirement to all passengers in a car driven by a 16- or 17-year-old.
The bill also increases from 20 hours to 40 hours the required time for on-the-road training.
While the bill passed unanimously, at least one lawmaker voiced concern about the changes being too heavy-handed.
"I can't help but feel that a lot of my rights as a parent are being taken away," said Rep. Anthony D'Amelio, R-Waterbury.
He said it should be up to a parent to decide how late their child can stay out, not the state.
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