Commission will study teenage driving in N.J.

MARLBORO - On March 14, Gov. Jon S. Corzine ceremonially signed legislation establishing the Teenage Driver Safety Study Commission to study, examine and review the issue of teenage driver safety in New Jersey.

"Out of the challenges we face comes the opportunity to make important changes," said Corzine, who spoke at Marlboro High School. "It is my hope that this commission will help ensure our youth are better prepared to take on the responsibilities of a driver's license and improve the safety of our roads."

The bill (A-617) was sponsored in the Assembly by assemblymen Joseph R. Malone III (R-Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Mercer) and John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). The bill was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-Monmouth and Mercer). Corzine officially signed the legislation on March 8.

The commission will be required to:

+ study and evaluate the availability and effectiveness of driving education and training programs for New Jersey's teenagers;

+ survey and assess the problems of driving under the influence and aggressive driving among teenagers;

+ consider and evaluate the role and utilization of defensive driving and accident prevention programs;

+ examine and analyze the types of motor vehicle violations that are contributing factors in teenage driving accidents; and

+ address any other issues that the commission believes should be reviewed or considered.

"In light of the tragedies that have affected all of our lives, I believe that this commission, which is a follow-up to the graduated driver law, will help us to identify critical teen driving safety issues that need to be addressed to keep our roads safe and to protect our children," Malone said.

"Recent tragedies have underscored the need for us to properly prepare our young people to accept the responsibilities of driving," Wisniewski said. "This commission is vital to the mission of ensuring that new drivers will be safe when they join the ranks of the motoring public."

"All too often, we read in the newspaper about young lives that have been lost due to motor vehicle accidents," Karcher said. "As a mother, my heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones in these recent tragedies. We need to take a comprehensive approach to ensure the safety of our kids behind the wheel, and decrease the prevalence of teen driver accidents in the Garden State."

According to information provided by Corzine's office, the commission will consist of 15 members, seven of which will be appointed by the Governor, one of whom is a member of the Driving School Association of New Jersey, one of whom shall be a representative from the AAA Clubs of New Jersey, and one of whom shall be a representative from a member company of the Insurance Council of New Jersey. Four members will be appointed by the Senate president, two of whom are to be senators representing different parties. Finally, four members are to be appointed by the speaker of the Assembly, two of whom are to be Assembly members representing different parties.

The commission is to complete its work within six months, reporting its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the governor and to the Legislature.

As part of the ceremony at Marlboro High School, senior Rebecca Lullio sang the national anthem.