Survey supports limits on teen drivers

HARRISBURG -- A new survey of AAA members has given a boost to state Rep. Joe Markosek's efforts to limit the number of passengers a junior driver can carry and to ban junior drivers from talking on cell phones or texting while driving.

The survey of 369 members of AAA clubs in Pennsylvania showed that 96 percent favored limiting the number of teen passengers that 16- or 17-year-old junior drivers can have in the vehicle at one time.

The measure that Mr. Markosek sponsored, House Bill 67, limits the teen passengers to just one (unless they are siblings of the junior driver, when there can be more than one). The AAA survey didn't contain a specific number of allowable teen passengers, but Mr. Markosek yesterday said he considers the survey support for his bill.

The AAA survey also showed that 98 percent of respondents favored banning the use of cell phones or other interactive wireless devices by 16- and 17-year-old drivers. That prohibition also is contained in House Bill 67, which has passed the House but still needs action in the Senate.

The survey also showed considerable support for making failure to wear a seat belt -- by a driver of any age -- a primary offense, meaning a police officer could stop and ticket a driver simply for not wearing a belt. Currently, failure to be belted in is a secondary offense, meaning an officer has to stop a car for another reason, such as speeding, and issue a separate ticket if he notices the driver is not wearing a seat belt.

Mr. Markosek said it's difficult enough to enact a few changes to driving laws without trying to make too many changes at once, so he isn't trying to change the seat belt law at this time.

The AAA survey also showed 61 percent support for an even more controversial measure -- requiring senior citizen drivers at a specified age, perhaps age 65, to retake the state driver's test to keep their license. That idea, which is unpopular with many senior citizens, isn't included in the Markosek bill.