BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1113
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 1113 (Frazier)
As Amended August 13, 2013
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |65-6 |(May 16, 2013) |SENATE: |34-0 |(September 3, |
| | | | | |2013) |
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|ASSEMBLY: |69-8 |(September 6, | | | |
| | |2013) | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: TRANS .
SUMMARY : Makes changes to the Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) Provisional Licensing Program. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires a person to hold an instructional driver's permit for
a minimum of nine months prior to applying for a provisional
driver's license (PDL).
2)Requires all PDL restrictions to remain in effect for
provisional licensees until they reach 18 years of age.
3)Prohibits a provisional licensee from driving between the
hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., except as specified.
4)Prohibits a provisional licensee from transporting passengers
who under 21 years of age, except as specified.
The Senate amendments :
1)Delay the implementation date for the provisions specified in
this bill to January 1, 2015.
2)Make nonsubstantial technical amendments.
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EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires a person to be at least age 15 and a half to apply
for an instructional driver's permit and is required to hold
the permit for a minimum of six months prior to applying for a
PDL.
2)Allows DMV to issue a driver's license to an applicant who is
at least 16 years of age but under 18 years of age pursuant to
DMV's provisional licensing program.
3)Requires a provisional licensee to be subject to the following
restrictions:
a) Prohibits driving during the hours of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.;
b) Prohibits transporting passengers who are under 20 years
of age, except as specified; and,
c) Requires a provisional licensee to be subject to the
abovementioned restrictions during the first 12 months
after issuance of a PDL.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, one-time DMV costs of approximately $100,000 to make
necessary programming changes, and minor costs to update forms
and publications (Motor Vehicle Account).
COMMENTS : The PDL program is widely perceived to be a major
success in reducing the number of accidents, injuries, and
deaths among teenage drivers. Studies published in the American
Medical Association (2011) and by the AAA Foundation for Traffic
Safety (2012) have concluded that overall, PDL programs across
the country have had "a major impact in reducing young driver
crashes and associated injuries to themselves and others."
According to the AAA study, in 1995, prior to the widespread
introduction of PDL programs, 2,667 drivers ages 16-17 involved
in fatal crashes across the country. By 2010, the accident rate
dropped 57% with 1,150 fatal crashes for the same age group.
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Considerable research has produced strong evidence that support
states' efforts to strengthen PDL programs for young drivers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has
reported that young drivers are particularly vulnerable to
"certain high-risk driving situations," such as driving at night
and driving with teenage passengers. In a "2008 Report to
Congress," NHTSA found "young drivers are frequently
inexperienced in hazard recognition and often take unnecessary
risks due to a combination of poor decisions making and an
illusion of invulnerability."
This bill aims to reduce teenage accident rates by strengthening
the state's PDL requirements and restrictions. Notably, this
bill strengthens several key PDL provisions that widespread
research has shown to be highly effective in reducing accident
rates among young drivers. In their study, the AAA Foundation
reported that states with passenger and nighttime restrictions
experienced a reduction in fatal accidents amongst 16- and
17-year-old drivers. This study also concluded that stronger
nighttime and passenger restrictions are effective tools in
further reducing accident rates for this age group.
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
This measure expands restrictions on teenage
drivers based on time of day and age.
Current law requires a teen to first obtain an
instructional permit beginning at age 15 for six
months, followed by a provisional driver license
for 12 months. A driver with a provisional
license is prohibited both from transporting
someone under the age of 20 and from driving
between the hours of 11 PM and 5 AM. The
statistics indicate that these restrictions have
been effective in saving lives.
I understand and agree with the need to address
factors that contribute to the unnecessary
accidents and deaths of young Californians on our
highways, and commend Assemblyman Frazier for his
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efforts.
Rather than imposing yet even more restrictions
on a teenager's driving privilege, I am directing
the Department of Motor Vehicles, California
Highway Patrol, and Office of Traffic Safety to
implement a teen driver training and education
program to improve transportation safety for
provisional drivers.
Analysis Prepared by : Manny Leon / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0002918