Wisniewski Urges Swift Action on Teen Driver Study Commission Recommendations

WISNIEWSKI URGES SWIFT ACTION ON TEEN DRIVER STUDY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS

(TRENTON) - Following today's release of the Teen Driver Study Commission's final report to Governor Jon S. Corzine, Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski urged his colleagues to swiftly review the commission's 47 recommendations and enact necessary legislation before the Legislature's summer break.

Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), the chairman of the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee, released the following statement:

"Transportation data shows that every nine minutes, a teenage driver is involved in an accident in New Jersey.  Today, we have been given the roadmap to change that terrible statistic.

"The thoughtful, deliberate, and inclusive way in which the Teen Driver Study Commission arrived at its recommendations for improving teen driver safety is deserving of praise.

"We now owe it to the parents of teens and teenagers themselves to carefully and quickly review these recommendations and enact necessary new laws before another young life is tragically cut short.

"To that end, I am encouraged that the Assembly already has taken positive action on a priority recommendation - requiring all passengers in vehicles, regardless of their age, to wear seatbelts.  We are well on our way to closing a glaring safety loophole in current law.

"In the coming months, I look forward to working with my colleagues, Governor Corzine and the members of the commission to make these recommendations a legislative priority."

--30--