FGL

There's been a lot of talk over the past 6 months about modifying the laws for Junior Operators.

Three collisions involving deaths and serious injury over the past few weeks have increased the pressure to pass this legislation. But all these collisions involved operators that were violating the current JOL. Two kids killed and one seriously injured on Rt 128 - junior operator that wasn't supposed to have other kids in the car. The 5 teens in the Ayer crash - Junior Operator in violation of the existing JOL. Three teens injured in Holden this past Sunday - 17 year old driver operating between midnight and 5 AM, a junior operator violation, and now charged with DUI. (See article in T&G on 22 March 2006)

In the 22 March 2006 editorial, "Lawmakers must toughen the state's Junior Operating Law" the S&E jumps on the bandwagon, (virtual proof that it's a bad idea).

Do we really need to make the JOL restrictions tougher, or do we just need to get serious about enforcing the exiting law? I think you can guess my position. Enforce the existing law, then once the uproar has died down explore ways to improve the training side of the law. Some of the things that need to go into the JOL:

• Increase the hours behind the wheel during driver's ed
• closer monitoring of driving schools
• update requirements for driving instructors
• increase supervised driving hours with parents
  1. logbook required
  2. minimum number of hour on divided highways
  3. minimum number of hours at night
  4. minimum miles driven in inclement weather including rain and snow
• decrease the age for getting a learners permit (but minimum license age remains the same
• improved, standardized license exams

Concentrating on restrictions and penalties in the proposed legislation will turn a potential opportunity to do some real good with this legislation into just another piece of FEEL GOOD LEGISLATION.