Underage
Drinking: Success Stories
Alabama – February 21, 2003
|
of Problem
Strategies More
|
With support from the OJJDP
Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Initiative, community organizations, enforcement agencies, youth, and other concerned citizens are working collaboratively to
change local ordinances and enforcement practices.
|
Alabama Gets Graduated Driver?s Licensing
|
It took 3 years, but Alabama?s Legislature recently passed a
graduated licensing law for young drivers. The law, which took effect in
October of 2002, is expected to yield a significant decrease in traffic
deaths among youth.
?Graduated Driver?s Licensing? (GDL) policies provide young drivers with
controlled exposure to increasingly challenging driving scenarios. This
can include a minimum amount of daylight practice before night driving is
permitted, and it may also include severe sanctions in case of drunken
driving. A number of studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of
graduated licensing in reducing youth traffic fatalities, both
alcohol-involved and non-alcohol-involved.
The effort to pass graduated licensing in Alabama began with State
Representative John Hawkins. Although his initial bill did not pass, the
Governor?s Advisory Board soon took up the cause. Comprising
representatives from more than 30 organizations?such as MADD, the
Sheriff?s Association, and the Police Chief?s Association?the Board took a
leadership role in promoting the proposed legislation. The Board was quick
to recognize the benefit of GDL, and began holding a series of briefings
for legislators, law enforcement, and other concerned persons around the
State.
Students from MADD?s Youth In Action also took part in the briefings. They
researched GDL laws in other States and youth traffic fatalities in
Alabama, and then presented their results at the regional briefings. One
student, Lee Barkley, was too young to drive at the time, so she was in
effect making her own license harder to obtain. Nonetheless, says Lee, GDL
is ?a great idea, because most teenagers do not have a lot of practice;
?practice? is the key word.?
After two more attempts to pass a bill, the
Alabama legislature finally passed a graduated licensing law to become
effective October 2002. The law restricts night driving, requires a set
period of practice time, and prevents young drivers from engaging in risky
behaviors such as carrying too many passengers.
State officials are already looking forward to
the benefits from GDL. Milton Saffold, Department of Economic and
Community Affairs, projects the law will reduce underage crashes by 30
percent (based on results from the neighboring States of Florida and
Georgia), and Alabama is now eligible for NHTSA incentive funds. However,
the State isn?t stopping there; they are following up with a public
awareness campaign to ensure that the law is understood. Says Saffold,
?Now we?re doing public education, to tell people what the law is going to
do.?
For more information, contact Milton Saffold, Alabama Department
of Economic and Community Affairs, at 334-242-5812, or
|
Training|
Events|
| Publications