Illinois Joins National Youth Traffic Safety Month Campaign in Efforts to Decrease Risks of Teen Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere
May is designated as National Youth Traffic Safety Month (NYTSM). The month-long campaign is used to empower and engage teens and communities to help to reduce the number of teen car accidents in Illinois and elsewhere across the United States through education, increased enforcement and support for stronger laws, according to the National Organization for Youth Safety.
The Illinois Teen Safe Driving Coalition recently participated with DomeShift 2011 in Springfield. Earlier this month, more than 150 youth, community and legislative leaders gathered to celebrate at DomeShift 2011 as they discussed the importance of teen safe driving and Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) with state lawmakers, according to the National Safety Council. DomeSmift 2011 was used to develop local advocacy plans, implement legislative strategies and educate peers about the principles of the GDL as teens and advocates spoke with key legislators, community leaders and fellow peers.
Our Chicago injury lawyers understand the importance of educating our young drivers about the proper techniques of safe driving. We recognize that May is an excellent time to attempt to raise awareness as the school season will be wrapping up soon and kids will be hitting the roads in full force for proms, graduations and summer break.
The current Illinois GDL requires that a driver be at least 15-years-old to possess a driving permit and must have that permit for at least 9 months before applying for a full driver license. A permit holder is required to complete 50 hours of supervised driving with at least 10 of those hours being completed during the evening hours.
Once a teen is granted their initial license, they're not to transport more than one passenger under age 20 for the first year. They're also not to drive after 10 p.m. or before 6 a.m. on weekdays (with restriction beginning at 11 p.m. on weekends). This initial license is to be held for at least one year or until they've reached 18-years-old. After this initial period, the teen driver may obtain a full license.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 2,400 young drivers (between the ages of 15 and 20) that were killed in traffic accidents in the United States in 2008. Another 228,000 teens were injured in these accidents. In Illinois, nearly 150 teens died in car accidents in 2009.
You can also check out the Illinois Teen Safe Driving Coalition Facebook page for more information.
The Illinois motorcycle car accident attorneys at VanPopering Law Offices offer free consultations to victims and their families who have been involved in an accident in Chicago or the surrounding areas. Call 1-800-767-4878.
