SCR 69, as introduced, Galgiani. Driver’s licenses: instruction permits: minimum age.
This measure would request the Department of Motor Vehicles to conduct a study regarding the possible effects of reducing the minimum age for applying for an instruction permit to drive a motor vehicle from 15 years and 6 months of age to 15 years of age.
Fiscal committee: yes.
P1 1WHEREAS, Approximately 3,000 teenagers every year, or eight
2teenagers every day, lose their lives in car crashes. The main cause
3of these car crashes is driver inexperience; and
4WHEREAS, Teenage drivers are less able to recognize
5hazardous situations and more likely than older drivers to
6underestimate dangerous driving situations; and
7WHEREAS, Driving is a complex skill, one that must be
8practiced to be learned well. Teenagers’ lack of driving experience,
9together with risk-taking behavior, puts them at heightened risk
10for car crashes; and
11WHEREAS, The need for skill-building and driving supervision
12for new drivers is the basis for graduated driver licensing systems.
13Graduated driver licensing puts restrictions on new drivers, and
14these are systematically lifted as the driver gains experience; and
15WHEREAS, Research suggests that the most comprehensive
16graduated driver licensing programs are associated with reductions
P2 1of 38 percent and 40 percent in fatal and injury crashes,
2respectively, among 16-year-old drivers; and
3WHEREAS, In nine states, a person may be as young as 14
4years of age in order to apply for a “learner’s permit” and begin
5driving; and
6WHEREAS, In this state, a person must be at least 15 years and
7six months of age to apply for an instruction permit to drive a
8motor vehicle; now, therefore, be it
9Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
10thereof concurring, That the Department of Motor Vehicles is
11requested to conduct a study regarding the possible effects of
12reducing the minimum age for applying for an instruction permit
13to drive a motor vehicle from 15 years and six months of age to
1415 years of age, and be it further
15Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
16this resolution to the Director of Motor Vehicles and to the author
17for appropriate distribution.
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