2008 Woodie Awards
Ohio law limits teen drive time
Legislation places passenger restriction on 16-, 17-year-olds
Allison Cole and Kellyn Moran
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: Community
Teen drivers in Ohio are now finding themselves more restricted in their vehicle use with the enforcement of a new Ohio law that limits time behind the wheel and number of passengers allowed in a car.
House Bill 343 was put in effect Friday, April 5 to limit 16- to 17-year-olds from driving between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. and with no more than one non-family member, except when the driver is with a parent or guardian. The bill also limits 17- to 18-year-olds from driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., with no specific passenger restrictions.
The only exceptions to driving between restricted hours, according to the new law, are when traveling to and from work with a note, when traveling for official functions sponsored by a school or in case of an emergency.
Tom Hunter, communications director for the Ohio Department of Public Safety, said one of the goals of this new law is to put the youngest drivers in the safest environment possible to master the skill of driving, including eliminating distractions and tightening driving hours.
"The end goal (with this law) is to make sure our youngest
drivers are drivers for a long time," Hunter said.
Hunter emphasized that he does not believe there is one factor in particular that prompted the bill, but that it is the overall knowledge and learning of the rules of the road that require practice among younger drivers.
"Teen drivers need to be aware that they should abide by the law," Hunter said.
The new law, written by Ohio Senator Gary Cates (R-West Chester) and supported by the Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs and the Ohio Teen Driver Coalition, is just one more step in highway safety changes to make roads safer, according to Hunter.
Hunter said anything Ohio can do to protect the younger and more inexperienced drivers should be done.
He added that every effort Ohio can take to ensure the safety of the public as a whole and make highways safer is a good step.
House Bill 343 was put in effect Friday, April 5 to limit 16- to 17-year-olds from driving between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. and with no more than one non-family member, except when the driver is with a parent or guardian. The bill also limits 17- to 18-year-olds from driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., with no specific passenger restrictions.
The only exceptions to driving between restricted hours, according to the new law, are when traveling to and from work with a note, when traveling for official functions sponsored by a school or in case of an emergency.
Tom Hunter, communications director for the Ohio Department of Public Safety, said one of the goals of this new law is to put the youngest drivers in the safest environment possible to master the skill of driving, including eliminating distractions and tightening driving hours.
"The end goal (with this law) is to make sure our youngest
drivers are drivers for a long time," Hunter said.
Hunter emphasized that he does not believe there is one factor in particular that prompted the bill, but that it is the overall knowledge and learning of the rules of the road that require practice among younger drivers.
"Teen drivers need to be aware that they should abide by the law," Hunter said.
The new law, written by Ohio Senator Gary Cates (R-West Chester) and supported by the Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs and the Ohio Teen Driver Coalition, is just one more step in highway safety changes to make roads safer, according to Hunter.
Hunter said anything Ohio can do to protect the younger and more inexperienced drivers should be done.
He added that every effort Ohio can take to ensure the safety of the public as a whole and make highways safer is a good step.
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