http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png http://jalopnik.com/tag/teenage driving http://jalopnik.com/tag/teenage driving

The American Automobile Association of Michigan is on a quest to strengthen the state's graduated licensing laws by restricting the number of passengers who can ride with a teen driver. Statistics show that teens transporting passengers are more likely to be involved in an accident; according to Jack Peet, Community Safety Services manager for AAA Michigan, "When there are multiple passengers, the crash risk is 3 to 5 times greater." Of course, loss of life is tragic, but it's the money that gets legislation moving, so AAA throws in its estimate that teen drivers cost society $34 billion in medical expenses, lost work, property damage, quality of life loss and other related costs in 2006 alone. Won't someone please think of the cost of the children? Full release after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5050005&view=rss&microfeed=true

Those buzzkills over at the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) have indicated that they think the driving age should be raised in order to prevent deaths. The group points to lower fatality rates among teens in New Jersey, a state which doesn't grant full licenses to drivers until they're 18, compared to states with lower ages. As we pointed out in our guide to teenage driving rules, licensing guidelines vary from state-to-state and can include a variety of measures. Simply notching up the driving age seems a bit arbitrary, especially given other options. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5047345&view=rss&microfeed=true

A troubling report from our favorite NY Times editor, and no it doesn't involve poorly substantiated insinuations that Bill Ford had a sexual relationship with John McCain. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the rate of licensed 16-year-olds dropped from 43.8% in 1998 to just 29.8% in 2006. You'll remember from our guide to teenage driving rules that some kids can get permits as early as 14. And where are these kids making out? It has something to do with the Internet. Other factors include the cost of private driver's instruction, now that school supported driving instruction dropped to just 20% from 90% in the 1980's. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=360820&view=rss&microfeed=true

It was a while before we got what the term "hardship license" meant, as we considered being able to drive when you're under the age of 16 a miracle. Later we learned to get one you generally have to be a farmer or have disabled parents, live in poverty and have a job. This all underlines the point that when you don't have a driver's license, the rules regarding how to get one are increasingly important. And while most of us have the ability to drive legally, we're all still often at the mercy of woefully unprepared and unskilled teenage motorists (some of whom are our children). More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=336454&view=rss&microfeed=true