Driving instructors throw support behind stricter rules of the road
Kelvin Kohler estimates that only one out of four 16-year-old drivers is mature enough to have a license.
He should know. As driving instructor of Drive Right School on Phelps Avenue, he says a prayer and rides shotgun with fearless, overly caffeinated teens on a daily basis.
In addition to cracking open an ever increasing thicker Rules of the Road pamphlet each year with his class, Kohler said, "I show them a film of a girl who got into two accidents within nine hours of getting her license."
He also shared the story of a youth who was angry with police after being ticketed for driving 77 mph in a 45-mph zone on Perryville Road. "That's the mentality we have to deal with," he said.
Nine new provisions
Because of stories like that and sobering statistics of auto accidents being the leading cause of deaths of young adults ages 15 to 20, there are nine new graduated driver's license laws or teen driver safety provisions in effect this year.
As of Jan. 1, first-year drivers age 16 and 17 are limited to one passenger under age 20, unless the additional passengers are a sibling, stepsibling, child, or stepchild of the driver.
Fifteen-year-old Katie Armato of Rockford was among about 20 youths taking their final exam earlier this month at the Drive Right facility. She said this years' crop of new laws won't be a problem.
"I was going to go with that anyways," she said. "My mom already told me I couldn't have people in the car with me because I get sidetracked way too easily."
The restriction, previously only six months, is now 12 months or until the driver reaches the age 18, whichever occurs first. Teenagers can obtain a learner's permit at age 15, and a license at age 16.
Other changes in the driving provisions for teen drivers is tripling the amount of required instruction during the permit phase from three to nine months.
Curfew an hour earlier
There also is an hour early curfew, a change from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and a change from midnight to now 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. However, new drivers are allowed to drive to and from employment or school-sanctioned activities outside the restriction times.
Barry Molencupp, owner of the five area Drive Right Schools, supports the state's tighter control over teen driving privileges.
"Any time you can get a teenager practicing more before they get a license, it's the best thing to do," he said.
Frank Bailey, 16, of Rockford is enrolled at the Drive Right facility at East State and Charles streets. He serves as a chauffeur for family members several times a week.
"I like to drive so I drive everywhere with my mom or my uncle. I drive a lot in the snow, too."
Parents need to help
While teen drivers will be required - as of July 1, 2008 - to have a minimum of six hours of driver training with a certified driver education instructor, Molencupp said driver's education instructors can't do it all.
"Parents need to get a little more involved in being a driver's education teacher, too."
Bailey's mother, Michelle Jordan, said her son will likely receive his license shortly after completing the driver's education class. She said she will continue to enforce basic driving rules with her son.
"No drinking and driving, no driving with a lot of people in the car, wear your seat belt, use your turn signals and follow the rules of the road."
Illinois teens driving on a permit are now required to log 50 hours behind the wheel with a parent. Ten of the 50 hours must be driven at night.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 3,490 drivers between the ages of 15 to 20 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 and an additional 272,000 drivers were injured. Drivers in this age group also accounted for 12.9 percent of all the drivers involved in fatal crashes and 16 percent of all police-reported crashes.
Rockford resident Nenad Zivkovic, who recently turned 15 and also is enrolled at the Phelps Avenue Drive Right School, said the advantage of receiving his permit nearly a year before he turns 16 is that it will allow him to practice driving in all four of Northern Illinois' seasons.
While Armato and Zivkovic will abide by the new laws, both enrolled in their driver's education class last year and therefore are grandfathered under last year's less stringent teen driving laws. They said the fact that their peers who may be enrolling in driver's education this year will have to log more time behind the wheel and will have to do so with an earlier curfew is a good thing for everyone involved.
"They'll get more practice in, and there will be less chance for drinking and driving," Zivkovic said. "That will save lives."
Staff writer Chris Green can be reached at 815-987-1241 or cgreen@rrstar.com.
Restrictions on young drivers
Passengers: Licensed drivers 18 and under may not have more than one passenger under 20 years of age in the vehicle with them at any time. Exceptions include a sibling, stepsibling, child or stepchild of the driver.
Cell-phone use: Drivers 18 and under cannot use a cell phone while driving except "in emergencies." Bear in mind that this means major emergencies, not simply being late or needing to call ahead for takeout food.
Use of seat belts: Drivers 18 and under and all passengers in the car 19 and under must be wearing seat belts.
Starting the process: In Illinois, teens can start the driver's license process at 15, when they may obtain a learner's permit. These are the main phases of the licensing process for teens in Illinois:
Permit: Beginning drivers 15 and older.
Initial license: Drivers 16-17 years of age who have completed driver's education programs and passed their driver's license exams.
Full license: Drivers 18-20 who have their license, but who are still subject to some restrictions that don't apply to drivers 21 and older.
Source: dmv.org/il-illinois/teendrivers.php
Illinois' graduated drivers licensing system
Permit Phase - Drivers Age 15
Parent/guardian consent required to obtain an instruction permit.
Must be enrolled in an approved driver education course and must pass vision and written exams.
A nighttime driving restriction is in place Sunday-Thursday, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Friday-Saturday, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. (local curfews may differ from the nighttime driving restriction).
Permit must be held for a minimum of nine months.
Must practice driving a minimum of 50 hours, including 10 hours of nighttime driving, supervised by a parent or adult age 21 or older with a valid driver's license.
Must not acquire any driving convictions during the nine-month permit phase.
Number of passengers limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat.
All occupants under age 19 must wear safety belts.
Cell-phone use while driving is prohibited except in the case of an emergency to contact a law enforcement agency, health care provider or emergency services agency.
Permit is valid for up to two years.
Initial Licensing Phase - Drivers Age 16-17
Parent/guardian must certify that a minimum of 50 hours of practice driving, including
10 hours of nighttime driving, has been completed.
Parent/guardian must accompany teen to provide written consent to obtain a driver's license or complete and notarize a Consent For Minor to Drive form.
Must have completed a state-approved driver education course.
A nighttime driving restriction is in place Sunday-Thursday, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Friday-Saturday, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Exemptions in the law allow new drivers to drive to and from employment or school-sanctioned activities outside the restriction times.
Drivers must maintain a conviction-free driving record for six months before turning age 18 before moving to the Full Licensing Phase. A traffic conviction during the initial licensing phase may extend restrictions beyond age 18.
All occupants under age 19 must wear safety belts.
For the first year of licensing, or until the driver is age 18, whichever occurs first, the number of passengers is limited to one person under age 20, unless the additional passengers are siblings, stepsiblings, children or stepchildren of the driver. After this period, the number of passengers is limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat.
Cell-phone use while driving is prohibited except in the case of an emergency to contact a law enforcement agency, health care provider or emergency services agency.
Full Licensing Phase - Drivers 18-20
No age-related restrictions apply except in cases where a driver fails to move from the Initial Licensing Phase to the Full Licensing Phase. Cell-phone use while driving for persons under age 19 is prohibited except in the case of an emergency to contact a law enforcement agency, health care provider or emergency services agency.