Teen Driver Restrictions Focus Of New NJ Bill

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey is one of only a few states that lets teens become licensed drivers without logging practice hours. A coalition of organizations urged the State Legislature to pass a bill that would change that.

The measure up for consideration would require new permit holders younger than 21 to complete 50 supervised hours of driving practice. Partners for Practice Hours — a group of more than 20 traffic-safety, education, health and insurance organizations — say that the training would reduce crashes.

New Jersey, Arkansas and Mississippi are the only other states that don't require teen practice hours, according to AAA.

"Teens need time and practice to develop safe driving skills," said Lauren Paterno,AAA Northeast's government affairs representative. "It's time for the New Jersey Legislature to join 47 other states in passing practice hours legislation for young drivers."

Identical bills in the State Senate and Assembly would add requirements for the holders of examination permits and special learner’s permits to complete 50 practice hours if they're younger than 21. At least 10 hours must occur when it's dark. The parent, guardian or supervising driver must certify the completion of these practice hours.

The Assembly and Senate bills were introduced last May and June, respectively. But they've stalled in the hands of legislative transportation committees, which haven't held votes to advance the measures.

More than 28,000 drivers ages 16-20 were involved in a New Jersey crash in 2020, including more than 7,000 that involved injury or death, according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation. That means someone younger than 21 is involved in a crash every 19 minutes in the state, according to AAA.

Almost every state mandates supervised driving for teen permit holders to obtain a driver's license, with many requiring 40 or 50 hours, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. New Jersey could cut collision claims by 13 percent and fatal crashes by 3 percent if the state imposes a 50-hour practice requirement, according to the nonprofit advocacy group.

Partners for Practice Hours includes the following organizations: AAA Clubs of New Jersey; Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety; Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company; Amica Mutual Insurance Company; Brain Injury Alliance of NJ; Consumer Federation of America; Emergency Nurses Association New Jersey State Council; Families for Safe Streets NJ; Insurance Council of NJ; Kids and Car Safety; Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) New Jersey; Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company; National Safety Council; Nikhil Badlani Foundation; NJ Driver Education Committee; NJM Insurance Group; NJ Teen Safe Driving Coalition; Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD); Safe Kids Worldwide; Selective Insurance Company of America; Society of Health and Physical Educators of NJ; Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research; State Farm Insurance Companies; The Center for Auto Safety; and Vision Zero Alliance of NJ.