Emilee Dalessio & Kelly McGroarty

After the tragedy that struck the hearts of the MRHS community on August 20, 2011, scrutiny of teen drivers is on the rise. Many are wondering if we need new laws or stricter enforcement.

However, some teens are feeling further victimized by demands for a better policy. Should fear be used as a basis for changing policy or enforcement?

Concern regarding teenage drivers is nothing new, and has been controversial in the state of New Jersey for the past few years. Lawmakers continue to consider further revisions.

Already, teens must have an adult present when they turn 16 and are given their driver's permit. At age 17, teens can obtain a Provisional Driver's License which restricts driving from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. with only one non-related passenger in the car until the driver has a year of driving experience. A passenger-limit violation results in a $100 fine for every passenger over the limit.

The driving curfew may be broken if a student has a job that requires them to work or attend a religious event past 11 p.m. and the driver has a note from an employer or a note from a religious official. “Over 40 percent of all fatal crashes occur after 9 p.m.,” said Violet Marrero of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

Recently, teenage drivers have also been asked to place red decals on their license plate to indicate they are an inexperienced driver. Authorities believe that this will help other drivers recognize young drivers on the road and take caution. “I feel that the decals are a form of discrimination,” said Ms. Siteman, a physical education teacher at Mainland Regional. "People should not have to display anything that indicates their age."

Elderly drivers with declining health also have a high probability of getting into a car accident, yet no lawmakers are proposing the elderly have special identifiers that indicate a risk. Some parents and teens worry that displaying an indication that someone is young could actually make them less safe. “I feel that the decals are unsafe for young drivers, especially for young girls,” said Pat Kugel, a senior at Mainland Regional.

GDL programs are designed to give young drivers an opportunity to gain driving experience safely before obtaining full driving privileges. Revised in 2009, the law was created to help eliminate distractions for inexperienced drivers and encourage caution among other drivers in close proximity. Not all teens at MRHS reject the need for concern. “Kids today are used to being spoon fed answers, having their parents to lean on when faced with trouble, and always cheating themselves by choosing to take the easy way out,” said Julia Byrnes, a sophomore at Mainland. "We need to encourage responsible behavior and have consequences for those who choose to act irresponsibly."

Education along with parental involvement in teens' lives would seem to be a reasonable alternative to special identification and unreasonable passenger limitations. Putting unrealistic laws into place will set teens up for failure; it's the easy way out. If parents, educators and teens can work together to encourage responsible behavior and driving practices, we can keep our roads safe for everyone, and from discrimination.