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May 6, 2014 | Traffic Safety
While New Jersey’s teens face a number of license restrictions during their Graduated Driver License (GDL) period, motorists overwhelming believe they would benefit from more education and practice. According to a survey released by AAA, motorists support measures that would require practice hours and a parent-teen orientation. The AAA Clubs of New Jersey have long advocated to include these provisions as part of the GDL. In 2012, the Senate and Assembly passed legislation that would have created a parent-teen orientation program, but the bill was vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie.
“Apprehension over the willingness of parents to attend these courses has often been cited as the objection to mandating such a class, but the results of our survey should put those concerns to rest,” said Rich Bradley, public affairs specialist for AAA South Jersey. Seventy-three percent of motorists survey supported an in-person or online parent-teen orientation. Parents and teens who attend AAA’s Dare to Prepare program have found that the hour and half spent learning about the GDL provisions, the facts behind the provisions and best practices for putting teens on the road to a lifetime of safe driving, is time well spent.
“These results show that motorists believe these types of programs are critical to keeping teens safe on the roadways,” Bradley said.
An even greater majority, 80 percent, believe that New Jersey should join the other 46 states in requiring practice hours before receiving a full license. In the past, AAA has supported a bill that would require 50 practice hours, including 10 nighttime hours.
“The best way to learn to be a safe driver, is behind the wheel with an engaged supervising driver,” Bradley said. “Our survey shows that motorists feel the same way and the only way to ensure that teens are getting practice time behind the wheel is to make it part of the GDL requirements.”
The AAA Clubs of New Jersey—AAA North Jersey, AAA New Jersey Automobile Club, AAA Mid-Atlantic and AAA South Jersey—provide automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than two million members through 26 offices across the state. The AAA Clubs of New Jersey are affiliated with AAA, the not-for-profit, fully tax paying federation of automobile clubs, which serves as an advocate for motorists and travelers.
About the poll: This is an analysis of a telephone survey conducted among 1,000 New Jersey motorists in November, 2011. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 3.1% at the 95% confidence interval.