Pennsylvania’s new law aimed at increasing safety for young drivers takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 27. The new law increases behind-the-wheel training requirements, places a limit on the number of passengers a young driver can transport and makes not wearing a seatbelt a primary offense for young drivers.
The new law adds 15 hours of supervised, behind-the-wheel training for driver’s license permit holders younger than 18, bringing the total to 65 hours. Ten of the additional hours must include driving at night and five hours must occur during poor weather conditions. Current permit-holders younger than 18 who have not yet passed the driving skills test before Dec. 27 will have to meet the requirements of the new law.
Also, as part of the law, drivers younger than 18 will not be permitted to transport more than one passenger who is under 18 and is not an immediate family member unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. After six months, the junior driver may transport up to three passengers younger than 18 who are not immediate family members without a parent or legal guardian present, but only if that driver has not been convicted of a driving violation or has not been partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash.
The law also requires that junior drivers and passengers under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt, and children under the age of eight must be fastened in a child restraint system. The seat belt provisions of the new law are primary offenses, meaning a driver can be stopped and cited solely for that violation.
More information on the changes for teen drivers can be found at www.dmv.state.pa.us by clicking on the “New Teen Driver Law 2011” button.
For more information on young driver safety, visit PennDOT’s highway safety website, www.DriveSafePA.org and select the “Young Driver” link under the Traffic Safety Information Center.
Pennsylvania First in Nation to Adopt New Driver License Security Feature (updated 12/5/11)
On Dec. 5, PennDOT deployed a new security hologram that makes it easier to spot fake drivers’ licenses and identification cards. Pennsylvania is the first state in the nation to use this enhanced security feature.
"A driver’s license or identification card has always been a trusted source for establishing a person’s true identity," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "We are steadfast in our resolve to combat counterfeit forms of identification, which ultimately jeopardize lives and hold great potential for harm to our national security."
The new hologram suppresses the “rainbow" colors normally associated with holographic images. The result is a hologram that appears to switch between white and black as the image is moved. Also, because the new image is of a much higher resolution, it is clearly visible in bright, moderate and even low-light environments.
This state-of-the-art technology is added to an array of security features including a holographic overlay of county names and keystone outlines already embedded in current license and ID cards.
For more information and to see an example of the new security feature, visit PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website at www.dmv.state.pa.us and click on Identity/Security.
Shorter Daylight, More Active Deer Drive Need for Extra Caution on Roads (updated 11/10/11)
As the end of Daylight Savings Time brings an earlier nightfall, motorists are cautioned that most crashes involving deer happen at this time of year.
Deer are most active during their breeding season, and particularly between sunset and sunrise. Harvesting and hunting activity can also increase the movement of deer.
PennDOT statistics show nearly half of all reportable crashes in the past five years involving deer occurred in the months of October and November, with nearly 77 percent taking place between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. Last year, there were more than 3,000 crashes statewide involving deer, resulting in more than 600 injuries and eight fatalities.
To reduce the risk of a deer-related crash, motorists should slow down and be especially cautious during morning and evening hours. Motorists should also increase following distance between vehicles, especially where deer-crossing signs are posted. Deer often travel in herds, so if you see one deer crossing the road, there’s a strong chance that others will follow.
To report a dead deer on state roads, motorists can call 1-800-FIX-ROAD.
For more safety tips and other highway safety information, visit www.DriveSafePA.org.
Students, Drivers Honored at Pennsylvania School Bus Safety Awards (updated 10/17/2011)
PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch, P.E. recognized 12 students for helping to communicate important school bus safety messages and honored six school bus drivers for their superior driving skills during a ceremony Monday to kick off National School Bus Safety Week, which runs through Oct. 21.
Governor Tom Corbett has proclaimed Oct. 17-21 as School Bus Safety Week in Pennsylvania to coincide with the national observance.
This year’s winners were chosen from more than 300 public and private school student entries. The first-place entries will be forwarded to a national competition to be judged at the end of this month.
During the ceremony, Schoch and Sgt. Robert Krol, Division Supervisor of the Pennsylvania State Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Division, also presented certificates and Governor’s citations to six school bus drivers for winning the 2011 Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safety Competition. Held each June, the competition tests school bus drivers’ knowledge of safety rules and safe operation of their buses.
During the ceremony, Krol also announced that “Operation Safe Stop” will be conducted statewide Oct. 19, uniting local and state law enforcement agencies, school districts and student transportation agencies to raise awareness of the consequences of improperly passing school buses.
Police officers will be watching for motorists who violate the school bus stopping law. If possible, school bus drivers will also document any illegal passes occurring on their routes and will file reports with local police.
State law requires motorists approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, to stop at least 10 feet from the bus. Motorists approaching from all directions are required to stop. However, motorists who encounter a school bus stopping on the opposite side of a divided highway are not required to stop when lanes of the highway are clearly separated by a divider such as concrete barriers or grassy medians.
In 2010, nearly 800 motorists were convicted of violating Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law. The same year, there were 368 school bus crashes resulting in six fatalities, including two school bus drivers. No school bus passengers were killed.
For more information about school bus safety, visit PennDOT’s highway safety website, www.DriveSafePA.org and select the School Bus Safety link under the Traffic Safety Information Center. In addition, the website now offers an interactive feature illustrating Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law to help motorists learn what to do when approaching or travelling behind a school bus. For a full listing of winners, go to www.dmv.state.pa.us under the School Bus Information Center and click on School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest.
Governor Corbett Proclaims Teen Driver Safety Week (updated 10/17/2011)
Adult supervision is a critical component of keeping teen drivers safe on the roads, even after they have been licensed, PennDOT said today in recognition of Teen Driver Safety Week.
Governor Tom Corbett has proclaimed this week as Teen Driver Safety Week to coincide with the national observance.
From 2006 to 2010, there were 115,539 crashes involving at least one 16- to 19-year-old driver in Pennsylvania, resulting in 980 deaths. Nearly 43 percent of those crashes were the result of the teen driver driving too fast for conditions (25,776 crashes), driver inexperience (3,300), driver distraction (9,460) and improper/careless turning (11,139).
The risk of a crash involving any of these factors can be reduced through practice, limiting the number of passengers riding with a teen driver, parents setting a good example for the teen driver, obeying all rules of the road and using common sense.
As a part of their obligation to help their children become responsible and safe drivers, parents should:
Talk to your teen about safe driving skills before they turn 16.
Establish a parent/teen driving contract.
Strongly encourage your teen to avoid distractions behind the wheel, such as talking or texting on the cell phone.
Limit the number of passengers your teen is allowed to have in their vehicle.
Limit dawn, dusk and nighttime driving until your teen gains more experience, and enforce a curfew. Remember, state law prohibits 16- and 17-year-olds with a junior license from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Gradually increase the amount of time/distance your teen is allowed to drive.
Enforce observance of speed limits and other rules of the road.
Ride with your teen occasionally to monitor driving skills.
Set a good example.
Teen drivers must also do their part by following these common-sense safety tips:
Always wear your seat belt.
Never drink and drive at any age; drinking under the age of 21 is illegal.
Avoid distractions behind the wheel, such as talking or texting on a cell phone, adjusting the radio, combing hair or applying makeup, and eating.
Obey the speed limit; driving too fast gives you less time to react.
Adjust radio/climate controls before beginning your trip, have your passenger adjust the controls for you or adjust the controls when stopped.
Plan ahead - know where you are going and get directions.
Leave early and allow plenty of time to reach your destination.
Expect the unexpected.
For more information on young driver safety, visit PennDOT’s highway safety website, www.DriveSafePA.org and select the "Young Driver" link under the Traffic Safety Information Center.
