Police to Focus on Teen Driving

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The Livermore Police Department will be focusing education and enforcement efforts on teen drivers during the month of January as part of an on-going traffic safety program.

Teen drivers receive more citations and are hurt or killed in accidents in greater numbers than other drivers. Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.

In 2008, there were 593 fatalities on California roadways as a result of teen drivers. The collision numbers involving inexperienced teen drivers increase even more during the inclement weather of winter and early spring. Driving related collisions are the leading cause of deaths of teens. 75 percent of all teen driving fatalities nationwide are as a result of distracted driving (i.e. texting, talking on cell phone, and friends in the car).

During the month of January, the Livermore Police Department will increase enforcement efforts on city streets surrounding high schools and areas with a history of teen driver related collisions.

These efforts will include the enforcement of speed, unsafe turning / lane changes, provisional licensing laws, seat belt and cell phone laws.

Teen drivers found to be in violation of the provisional licensing laws will be issued citations requiring them to appear in traffic court with a parent.

Provisional licensing restrictions include:

Drivers under the age of 18 years cannot drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 am and cannot transport passengers under the age of 20, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, a licensed driver 25 years or age or older, or a certified driving instructor.

During the month of January, teen drivers and the parents of teen drivers will be provided with a pamphlet on “Teen Driving Tips” when contacted by the Livermore Police. The pamphlets outline laws related to teen driving, provisional licensing restrictions and DMV penalties associated with driving convictions.

Officer Glen Robbins, a collision investigator with the department, hopes the dissemination of this information will help to save the lives of our youth.

“Unfortunately, I’ve had to tell parents their children have been killed in a crash," he said. "It’s definitely something no parent should ever have to hear.”

Recently, the Livermore Police Department conducted an investigation of a 17-year-old driver, who was driving with a . The Livermore Police Department will be continuing with its teen DUI education efforts with the “Every 15 Minutes” program that will be occurring in May 2012.