New York Adjusts Driver License Laws

02/19/2010

It's the leading cause of death for people between ages three and 34, so it may not be surprising that one state is enacting regulations about driving.

Starting Monday, young drivers in New York will face stricter rules regarding where, when and how they can drive with a junior permit. People age 16 and over will be able to apply for a permit, but will be required to drive for 50 supervised hours before they can take a road test. Fifteen of the hours must be at night.

The law prohibits drivers 18 and under from driving with more than one person under age 21 or between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Members of this age group who already have licenses will not be affected by the law. Those who have their permits will be required to follow the graduated license law.

"Our department's general thoughts are it's a good thing," Gordon Dibble, chief deputy in Genesee County, said in an interview with New York-based TheLNC.com. "The most glaring statistic is the one that says driving and traffic accidents are the number one killer of teens."

Drivers age 15 to 20 accounted for 14 percent of police-reported crashes in 2008, according to the Department of Transportation. These accidents can increase a driver's auto insurance score, resulting in higher premiums.

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