Last month, Skaneateles parents and their teens had the chance to attend a presentation by Onondaga Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh at the Skaneateles High School sponsored by Parents And Community and Teens Together (PACT).
Walsh highlighted teenage driver statistics, clarified the Graduated Licensing Program and explained the STOPPED program.
As our children grow closer to becoming adults, operating an automobile is the most visible symbol of maturity. Ironically, the same automobile, which has been a vehicle of growth for today's youth, can be attributed to the leading cause of death for children between 15 to 20 years of age. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2003, more than 3,600 drivers 15 to 20 years old were killed and an additional 308,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents.
Numerous studies have identified inexperience, risk-taking behavior and great risk of exposure as the three contributing factors. Several programs have been developed in an effort to reduce such tragic statistics.
Drivers' education programs offer driving skill instruction for the inexperienced, the Graduated Licensing Program extends the learner permit stage and has been credited with statistical reduction in several states by reducing the risk of exposure and the STOPPED program addresses risk-taking behavior.
The graduated Licensing Program is confusing to most. Each degree of licensing grants more responsibility based on age, experience and education. The learner permit consists of a new driver permitted only to drive with a licensed driver over the age of 21.
Once a young driver has documented proof of 20 hours of supervised driving instruction they can now test for a driver's license.
If your child passes the road test during the first six months of their valid permit status they will be issued a limited use junior license.
With a limited use junior license your child may drive alone for a school course, school activity or employment until 9 p.m. After 9 p.m., your child may drive alone for a school course or employment. The term “school course” does not include extracurricular activities, sports or social events for which no scholastic credits are given.
When the learner permit and the limited use junior license, combined, are valid for six months, the DMV will automatically send your child a full use junior license.
With a full use junior license, the same restrictions apply as the limited junior license, but the driver is allowed to have no more than two passengers under the age of 21 in the vehicle.
Once your child has turned 17 and completed a driver's education course he will be able to obtain a full use drivers license.
The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office has developed a program specifically designed to help parents keep a hand in their children's learning process. The STOPPED program is a voluntary parental notification system that allows parents to be notified of any problems or potential problems. Parents can register their motor vehicles with the sheriff's office. After being issued an identification sticker, which is to be displayed on the vehicle's windshield, parents will receive notification if the vehicle is stopped by police and is operated by someone under the age of 21.
A notification card is mailed directly to the parents providing the time and location of the stop, driver's name and the number of passengers, reason for the stop and whether any traffic tickets were issued.
The program provides young drivers with a visible reminder of parental supervision, and provides parents with the means of correcting behavior before it is too late.
Lisa Wellington is a PACT board member. She may be reached at 685-8721.
On the Net
• For further information regarding the graduated licensing laws, visit www.nysdmv.com
• To register for the stopped program, visit www.cayugacounty.us/sheriff.com
As our children grow closer to becoming adults, operating an automobile is the most visible symbol of maturity. Ironically, the same automobile, which has been a vehicle of growth for today's youth, can be attributed to the leading cause of death for children between 15 to 20 years of age. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2003, more than 3,600 drivers 15 to 20 years old were killed and an additional 308,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents.
Numerous studies have identified inexperience, risk-taking behavior and great risk of exposure as the three contributing factors. Several programs have been developed in an effort to reduce such tragic statistics.
Drivers' education programs offer driving skill instruction for the inexperienced, the Graduated Licensing Program extends the learner permit stage and has been credited with statistical reduction in several states by reducing the risk of exposure and the STOPPED program addresses risk-taking behavior.
The graduated Licensing Program is confusing to most. Each degree of licensing grants more responsibility based on age, experience and education. The learner permit consists of a new driver permitted only to drive with a licensed driver over the age of 21.
Once a young driver has documented proof of 20 hours of supervised driving instruction they can now test for a driver's license.
If your child passes the road test during the first six months of their valid permit status they will be issued a limited use junior license.
With a limited use junior license your child may drive alone for a school course, school activity or employment until 9 p.m. After 9 p.m., your child may drive alone for a school course or employment. The term “school course” does not include extracurricular activities, sports or social events for which no scholastic credits are given.
When the learner permit and the limited use junior license, combined, are valid for six months, the DMV will automatically send your child a full use junior license.
With a full use junior license, the same restrictions apply as the limited junior license, but the driver is allowed to have no more than two passengers under the age of 21 in the vehicle.
Once your child has turned 17 and completed a driver's education course he will be able to obtain a full use drivers license.
The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office has developed a program specifically designed to help parents keep a hand in their children's learning process. The STOPPED program is a voluntary parental notification system that allows parents to be notified of any problems or potential problems. Parents can register their motor vehicles with the sheriff's office. After being issued an identification sticker, which is to be displayed on the vehicle's windshield, parents will receive notification if the vehicle is stopped by police and is operated by someone under the age of 21.
A notification card is mailed directly to the parents providing the time and location of the stop, driver's name and the number of passengers, reason for the stop and whether any traffic tickets were issued.
The program provides young drivers with a visible reminder of parental supervision, and provides parents with the means of correcting behavior before it is too late.
Lisa Wellington is a PACT board member. She may be reached at 685-8721.
On the Net
• For further information regarding the graduated licensing laws, visit www.nysdmv.com
• To register for the stopped program, visit www.cayugacounty.us/sheriff.com