Our View: New N.C. law enough to drive you to think
As predictable as the turn of the calendar from December to January, new laws across North Carolina will take effect today.
For North Carolina teens and drivers, no law will be as important as the one resulting from Senate Bill 636.
Under this law, all 16- and 17-year-olds who have a limited learner's permit, or a provisional license, will face severe penalties up to and including possible arrest or license revocation if they are caught speeding 15 miles over the limit, or driving faster than 80 mph.
For a number of reasons, these harsh consequences are the right thing to have in place. But the most important reason is for the safety of our young drivers. Each year, thousands of young and inexperienced drivers die on our nation's roadways. In 2011 in North Carolina, at least 50 drivers younger than 19 were killed in automobile crashes.
Adding this new law to a mandatory driver's log — also in effect today — requiring 60 hours of driving time before granting a level two provisional license and 12 additional hours for a level three provisional license will certainly not make it any easier for a teen to obtain a driver's license. This is by design, and is as it should be.
Driving in the High Country is no easy feat. By expecting increased experience and maturity from our young drivers, we can better the chance that this feat will be accomplished more successfully each time our teens get behind the wheel.
For North Carolina teens and drivers, no law will be as important as the one resulting from Senate Bill 636.
Under this law, all 16- and 17-year-olds who have a limited learner's permit, or a provisional license, will face severe penalties up to and including possible arrest or license revocation if they are caught speeding 15 miles over the limit, or driving faster than 80 mph.
For a number of reasons, these harsh consequences are the right thing to have in place. But the most important reason is for the safety of our young drivers. Each year, thousands of young and inexperienced drivers die on our nation's roadways. In 2011 in North Carolina, at least 50 drivers younger than 19 were killed in automobile crashes.
Adding this new law to a mandatory driver's log — also in effect today — requiring 60 hours of driving time before granting a level two provisional license and 12 additional hours for a level three provisional license will certainly not make it any easier for a teen to obtain a driver's license. This is by design, and is as it should be.
Driving in the High Country is no easy feat. By expecting increased experience and maturity from our young drivers, we can better the chance that this feat will be accomplished more successfully each time our teens get behind the wheel.