NEWS BRIEF
Pinching Insurance Pennies Can Help Consumers Tighten Their Belts in Bad Economy
July 31, 2008 — It’s estimated that most consumers could save more than 20% on insurance if they took simple steps such as raising deductibles, comparison shopping and taking advantage of discounts. More...
Rocky Mountain Insurance Information
NEWS
6565 South Dayton St. #2400, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111
Serving Colorado, New Mexico, Utah & Wyoming
Contact: Carole Walker, Executive Director
(303) 790-0216 or 1-800-355-9524
Release Date: Immediately
Topic: Traffic Safety
"LEARN THE LAW" IS MESSAGE OF EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN
The public can also get more information about teen driving at www.coteendriver.com
June 28, 2005- New posters distributed to driver license offices statewide urge parents and teens to learn more about Colorado's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law. Safety officials and advocates want young drivers and their parents to be aware of new provisions to the GDL law that take effect on Friday, July 1. The changes apply to all drivers, including those who received a driver's license before July 1.
“The goal of this educational campaign is to make it easy to get information about the GDL law,” said Tom Norton, Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) Executive Director.
Starting on Friday, July 1, drivers under age 18 cannot carry passengers under age 21 until the driver holds a valid driver's license for at least six months. After six months, the driver can have no more than one passenger under age 21 until the driver holds a valid driver's license for at least one year. The exceptions to these provisions of the GDL law are below:
- If your parent or guardian is in the vehicle.
- If there is an adult passenger in the vehicle, 21 years of age or older, who has a valid license and has held a driver license for at least one year.
- If the passenger under 21 needs emergency medical assistance, or
- If the passengers under 21 are members of your immediate family and they are all wearing seatbelts.
Another new provision prohibits driving between midnight and 5 a.m.until the driver holds a valid driver's license for at least one year. The following exceptions are allowed:
- If your parent or guardian is in the vehicle.
- If there is an adult passenger in the vehicle, 21 years of age or older, who has a valid license and has held a driver license for at least one year.
- Driving to a school or school-authorized activity and the school does not provide transportation (signed statement from school required).
- Driving to/from work (signed statement from employer required).
- Medical emergency.
- Driver is an emancipated minor.
“We welcome these new materials and believe they are important tools in our efforts to help new drivers understand the law and navigate through the licensing process,” said Steve Tool, Senior Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The campaign was developed by a coalition of state agencies, non-profit groups and citizens who believe the educational efforts are critical to keeping teens safe while they are in their first year of driving. The posters feature teens and take a humorous approach to show what could happen if they don't learn about the law. Riding bikes and riding the light rail may be two of the alternatives teens will have to consider if they don't have a license. Starting this week posters and brochures will be available in Driver License Offices and are being distributed by many organizations, including the AAA Colorado, Colorado State Patrol (CSP), and the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association (RMIIA). The public can also get more information about teen driving at www.coteendriver.com .
“We are all working toward the same goal of helping to educate teens to make safe driving choices and saving young lives on our highways," said Colonel Mark Trostel, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol.
Last year in Colorado, 96 teen drivers and passengers, ages 16-20, died in traffic crashes. Nearly 80 percent of the teen passengers who lost their lives were riding with teen drivers. In addition, nearly two-thirds of the young victims were not using seat belts. In 2004, teens represented only 7 percent of the licensed drivers in Colorado; however, they accounted for more than 14 percent of the traffic deaths in the state.
The changes to the GDL law were made as a result of SB-036 sponsored by Senator Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora and Representative Mike May, R-Parker. The Colorado Teen Driving Coalition which supported the legislation included parents of teens who died in traffic crashes as well as many public, private and non-profit organizations.
"Since 1997, AAA and AAA Colorado made teen driver safety a top priority since the number one killer of teens between 16 and 17 years of age is not alcohol or drugs but their involvement in vehicle crashes. More than 81 percent of minor passengers in Colorado are killed by teen drivers. The real work begins to help parents and teens understand the complete GDL law through an ongoing education campaign. This effort is not only about the safety of teen drivers and minor passengers, but is about the safety of everyone on Colorado's roadways,” said Mary Greer, Public Relations Director for AAA Colorado.
“When you load up a bunch of teens in a car with an inexperienced driver behind the wheel there are life and death consequences, but many teens can relate more to the short-term realities of getting and keeping their license,” said Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. “Teens need to understand that if they break the new teen driving laws they will likely pay more for auto insurance and put their coveted new license at risk.”
On August 10, another provision in the GDL law will go into effect. Teens under age 18 with a learner's permit will not be allowed to use cell phones while driving.
###
Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association is a non-profit consumer information organization. Affiliated with the Insurance Information Institute, RMIIA has been serving consumers and the media since 1952.
How Medical Bills are Paid After an Auto Accident
When you buy auto insurance you need to think about what actually happens when you're in an accident and need to use it...
Updated:
February 28, 2007 1:52 PM
© Copyright Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association
7951 E. Maplewood Avenue, Suite 130 • Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111 USA
(303) 790-0216 or Toll Free (800) 355-9524
Legal notice, Disclaimer & Terms of Use