3/24/05-House Republicans said they would introduce legislation in the coming weeks to raise the minimum driving age.
The change, along with other new proposed driving rules, comes on the heels of several accidents since November involving teen drivers that killed 10 teenagers.
Current state law allows a teen age 15 years and 10 months to obtain a learner’s permit. The permit requires adult supervision for the first six months and prohibits unsupervised driving for the next six months from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
An effort proposed by Rep. Robert Valihura Jr., R-Talleyville, would start the restriction an hour earlier.
The Republican-led initiative would prohibit a teen from obtaining a learner’s permit until their 17th birthday. The first six months still would be supervised and unsupervised night driving would be prohibited until age 18.
Restrictions on teen passengers would not be changed. Driver’s education also would remain a licensing requirement for anyone younger than 18.
The proposed measures unveiled March 24 include lowering the threshold for driver’s license points and penalties for motorists under age 22, and barring young drivers from carrying non-family, teen passengers at night.
House Majority Leader Wayne Smith has attached his name to an initiative likely to receive quite a bit of attention. He is proposing to establish an Internet-accessible database with the driving record of Delaware drivers younger than 26.
Smith, R-Brandywine, told The Associated Press it could help protect young people by allowing parents to determine whether they are hanging out with unsafe drivers.