BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1801
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Date of Hearing: March 24, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 1801 (Frazier) - As Introduced: February 18, 2014
SUBJECT : Driver's License: provisional licenses
SUMMARY : Requires drivers under the Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) Provisional Licensing Program to be subject to
program driving restrictions until age 18.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Requires a person to be at least age 15 and a half to apply
for an instructional driver's permit and to hold the permit
for a minimum of six months prior to applying for a
provisional driver's license (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 during the first 12 months after issuance of a
PDL:
a) Driving during the hours of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. is
prohibited; and,
b) Transporting passengers who are under 20 years of age,
except as specified is prohibited.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : The Provisional Licensing Program is widely perceived
to be a major success in reducing the number of accidents,
injuries, and deaths among teenage drivers. Key to this success
is that provisional licensing programs are designed to protect
young novice drivers by restricting exposure to risk initially
and then gradually phasing in increased privileges as the driver
gains experience. Studies published in the American Medical
Association (2011) and by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
(2012) have concluded that overall, provisional licensing
programs across the country have had "a major impact in reducing
AB 1801
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young driver crashes and associated injuries to themselves and
others." According to the AAA study, in 1995 prior to the
widespread introduction of provisional licensing 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.
Considerable research has produced strong evidence that support
states' efforts to strengthen provisional licensing programs for
young drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) reports that young drivers are
particularly vulnerable to "certain high-risk driving
situations," such as driving at night and driving with teenage
passengers. In its "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." Additionally, another AAA Foundation report
(2013) affirms that states with the most comprehensive
provisional licensing systems have achieved the greatest
reductions in crash rates of drivers ages 16 and 17.
This bill aims to reduce teenage accident rates by extending the
period PDL drivers are subject to provisional licensing
requirements - currently 12 months - to age 18 regardless of the
age a PDL driver originally obtains their driver's license.
Previous legislation : AB 1113 (Frazier) would have made changes
to DMV's Provisional Licensing Program by requiring a person to
hold an instructional driver's permit for a minimum of nine
months prior to applying for a PDL, requiring all PDL
restrictions to remain in effect for provisional licensees until
they reach age 18, prohibiting a provisional licensee from
transporting passengers under age 21, and extending nighttime
driving restrictions 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. This bill was vetoed by
Governor Brown. In his veto message, the Governor stated that
while he agrees with the need to address factors that contribute
to unnecessary accidents and deaths of young drivers, rather
than imposing more restrictions, he would direct DMV, California
Highway Patrol, and Office of Traffic Safety to implement a teen
driver training and education program.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
AB 1801
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Allstate Insurance Company (sponsor)
Personal Insurance Federation of California
Automobile Club of Southern California
National Safety Council
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Manny Leon / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093