Klobuchar Provisions Included in Driver Safety Legislation

Press Release

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that two of her provisions to strengthen the training process for new drivers and raise awareness about the threats posed by reckless and distracted driving -- including texting while driving -- passed the Senate Commerce Committee today as part of the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011. The larger bill would help improve the safety of America's roads and highways by reauthorizing programs at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

"Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal car crashes as other drivers," Klobuchar said. "Texting while driving and other unsafe practices aren't just dangerous for teens, they're dangerous for everyone on the road, and that's why it's so important for us to encourage safe practices and smart programs for training new drivers."

Motor vehicle crashes account for more than one in three teenage fatalities and are the leading cause of death for this age group. Just last week a national study showed that texting while driving is up 50 percent among teens. To help reduce teen deaths, Klobuchar introduced the Students Taking Action for Road Safety Act (STARS), a bill that would use peer-to-peer prevention strategies to educate teens about the dangers of everything from drunk driving, speeding, not using seatbelts, and texting while driving. Provisions of Klobuchar's bill were included in the larger Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011.

Also included as part of the larger bill are parts of legislation Klobuchar has championed to assist states to establish a standardized, national Graduated Drivers License program. The Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act (STAND UP) would gradually phase in driving privileges, reducing risk by helping teens acclimate to the rules of the road over time.

As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees traffic safety issues, Klobuchar has consistently worked to promote safe practices for drivers and passengers. In the summer of 2010, she convened a teen driver safety summit at Tartan High School in Oakdale, Minnesota, which featured NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. Klobuchar has co-sponsored several bills that would increase the safety of our roads and highways, including a bill to ban texting while driving and legislation to require adequate lighting for agricultural machinery traveling on rural roads.

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