Senate Approves Teen Driving Safety Task Force
Air Date:03/08/2011
By Kealey Bultena
South Dakota Senators approve a measure that creates a task force on teen driving safety.
Lawmakers cite statistics that South Dakota has some of the worse consequences of teen driving in the nation. Senator Todd Schlekeway says car crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the state, and a task force could identify ways to change that.
"We would be studying data on teen driving, citations, crashes, deaths, and injuries. Current statutes on our books involving teen driving, the drivers ed available, and the training for drivers ed instructors, national best practices," Schlekeway says.
Schlekeway says the task force won’t cost the state’s general fund any money. The teen driving study is contingent upon grant dollars.
Senators overwhelmingly agree that teen driving needs a second look. Thirty-two lawmakers voted for House Bill 1221, with just two votes against it.
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