One of the most important new laws to come out of the 2008 legislative session, aimed at reducing the number of deadly teen driving accidents and improving safety for all people on the highways, took effect August 1.

To increased public awareness of the issue, State Rep. Toni Boucher noted that a brochure is available on the Internet that highlights provisions of the new law that affect teen drivers, their families and their passengers.

The brochures is found at http://www.ct.gov/teendriving/lib/teendriving/teendriverbroch.pdf

“It is important to note that car accidents remain the number one cause of teen deaths,” said Rep. Boucher, “not only in Connecticut but across the nation. It is an issue we take seriously and one we are trying to resolve.”

Rep. Boucher added, “In many cases, the lack of experience among new drivers becomes the cause of death of others on the roads. So this has broader public safety impacts for all resident so the state.”

“This is an issue I have been working on and concerned about for many years,” said Rep. Boucher. “This and previous teen driving laws generally have been bi-partisan compromises, negotiated among various groups, to assure these new laws are implemented.”

Rep. Boucher said, “The legislature continues to monitor and improve the laws. Clearly, the continuing number of fatal accidents involving teen drivers has brought an additional level of urgency and the decision that the legislature needed to do more.”

The new law taking effect is the result of a task force created by Gov. M. Jodi Rell and headed by the Commission of Motor Vehicles, Robert M. Ward and Commissioner of Public Health, Dr. Robert Galvin.

Major elements of the new law include:

1. Supervised Training
The new law increased the time for supervised new driver training from what were once eight hours, then 20 hours, to a new level of 40 hours.

2. Passenger Restrictions
The new law lengthens the time when new drivers are restricted in what passengers they may carry in the vehicle. Only parents or driving instructors are permitted to ride with a new driver for the first six months. Previously, it had been three months.

During the second six months, young drivers are permitted to carrying only other family members in the vehicle.

Only after 12 months, new drivers may carry non-family members in the vehicle. Studies have shown that passenger distractions often play a role in accidents involving young drivers.

Rep. Boucher serves the 143rd Assembly District of Wilton and Norwalk in the state House of Representatives.