Teen driving deaths down 60 percent

Posted on October 20, 2015

*Secretary of State Jesse White says the graduated license program is saving lives. (WJBC file photo)*

By Terry James

SPRINGFIELD – There has been a 60 percent decrease in teen driving deaths since 2007.

That’s when Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White started the graduated licensing program. More than 150 Illinois teens died on the roads in 2007. In 2014 that number was just over 60. White said despite the decrease one death is too many.

“It requires parents to spend 50 hours behind the wheel with their child and of course 10 hours at night because we realize nighttime driving creates a problem for teen drivers,” said White. “Sometimes they would get a ticket and they’d go to court and represent themselves and now they have to bring their parents with them.”

White says parents can also go online to track their teen’s driving record.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

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