Driving laws change for teens

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Teens will face more driving restrictions to increase safety on the road beginning next week. July first the new graduated driver's license takes effect. Michael Thompson from Mr. T's Driving School in Frankfort has been teaching drivers education for 40 years. He believes the new teen driving laws will keep motorists of all ages safer on the road.

"I can ask a class how many of you think you're a good driver? Ninety percent of their hands go up," he said. "You're not because you don't have the experience."

The Graduated Drivers license has four components and eases teens into driving. First, telecommunication devices like cell phones are prohibited. Thompson hopes the restriction will keep eyes focused on the road rather than a keypad.

"You go 55 miles an hour and you take your eyes off the road for two seconds. Two seconds and you've covered a lot of distance," he said.

Teens will also have to do without passengers their own age for the first 180 days after getting a license.

"A 16-year-old has the highest chance of having a fatal crash. If you put another 16-year-old beside him the percentage goes up 100 percent. They are two times as likely to die," Thompson explained.

The exemption for the rule a sibling, child, or spouse of the driver may ride with them. Teens can also be accompanied by a driver over 25. Young drivers will also need to stay off the road at night between 10 pm and 5 am for the first 180 days, except when driving from work, school, or church related functions. They can also drive during that time with a driver 25 or older in the car. Finally, new drivers will no longer qualify for court diversion programs. The state hopes the changes will help teens become less distracted on the road.

"A lot of new drivers are willing to engage in some high risk behaviors. What exacerbates that issue, they don't have a great wealth of knowledge about being on the highway or what sort of hazards they may encounter," said T. Neil Moore of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

Teens who will have the green light to get a license next July should be ready for even more restrictions. In 2010, the age you can get a license will be raised from 16 years and 30 days (or 16 years and 180 days without the class) to 16 years and 180 days with drivers ed (16 years and 270 days without the class.)  Plus, drivers will need 50 hours of supervised practice time.  Ten of those hours need to be nighttime driving.  Finally, new drivers must hold a learner's permit for 180 days instead of 60 before applying for a license.

Violation of any of the new laws carries a fine plus court costs, putting the price tag of disregarding the restrictions at $644.50.