The statistics are startling – on average 10 teenagers die every day in the U.S. as a result of automobile accidents and it’s the number one killer of teens between the ages of 15 and 20.
It’s because of the fact that we lose an average of 3,600 teens each year that the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act of 2009 (STANDUP) Act and the SafeRoad4Teens program were announced today. Groups of teens, their parents, business organizations, the National Safety Council, law enforcement officicals and medical organizations have come together to write STANDUP.
Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act of 2009 (STANDUP Act) would establish minimum federal requirements for state GDL laws and encourage all states to adopt GDL laws that meet those minimum requirements within 3 years.
It’s no coincidence that the announcement of the Act comes at a time when high school proms will becoming into full swing. Every year it seems like we hear the tragic story of a several teens riding the the same car losing their life in a car crash on prom night. Today’s announcement is an attempt to put more focus on safe teen driving as well as a passage of the STANDUP federal act which would require all states to enact the Graduated Driver’s Licenses system.