| For many years, NHTSA has been encouraging the | | | | outweigh likely program costs by at least a factor of |
| States to strengthen their laws and programs dealing | | | | 10. |
| with youth traffic safety. Despite these efforts, | | | | In its current form, the legislation does not have as one |
| progress toward major changes in State laws has | | | | of its eligibility criteria for the grant program a provision |
| been relatively slow. Only about five States have | | | | that would reward a State for enacting a nighttime |
| implemented the comprehensive mix of laws and | | | | curfew for young, inexperienced drivers under the age |
| programs that appear to be necessary to effectively | | | | of 18. Such a restriction would require the provisional |
| deal with traffic safety problems of youth and to | | | | licensee to have an adult present in the front seat |
| reduce the youth traffic fatality rate substantially below | | | | during specified hours. Some might argue that such a |
| its current level. | | | | restriction would be cumbersome. State licensing |
| Legislation should be properly structured and | | | | agencies, however, have successfully implemented |
| implemented, as the resulting Federal/State partnership | | | | curfew programs for specified drivers, whilech grant |
| would promote a comprehensive and vigorous national | | | | limited exceptions for very specific conditions on a |
| program that could substantially reduce traffic fatalities | | | | case-by-case basis. Although concerns regarding civil |
| involving youth. This could be funded out of general | | | | liberties of youth may be raised, experience shows |
| revenues or out of the Federal Highway Trust Fund. | | | | that such curfews saves lives and surveys show that |
| Either way, the cost would be roughly $20 million a | | | | such curfews are appreciated by many. |
| year. If funded out of the Trust Fund, this program | | | | If we are going to simultaneously promote traffic |
| would slightly increase competition for funds from the | | | | safety and provide for the mobility of older Americans, |
| Fund, which is currently tapped for about $20 billion | | | | we need to learn a great deal more about how |
| annually. There are, however, unused contract | | | | declining physical and mental abilities affect driving and |
| authorities and funds in the 1991 Highway Act and in | | | | how to relate this information to licensing decisions. |
| other laws that could be redirected to pay for this new | | | | Over the next 10 years, the proposed older driver |
| program. | | | | program could provide much of this knowledge. This |
| Does this expenditure make sense? The CRS report | | | | information would help State agencies make more |
| on the younger driver issue, which you have before | | | | informed licensing decisions, lead to improved guidelines |
| you, projected that the benefits in reducing the medical | | | | to be used by concerned families and physicians, and |
| and societal costs oi losing and injuring thousands of | | | | assist older drivers in making better decisions about |
| yoimg people each year in traffic crashes would | | | | their own driving practices and future license. |