Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB05-036

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Votes:
Action Taken:
Referred SB 05-036 to the Committee of the Whole, PASS



11:24 AM -- Senate Bill 05-036

Representative May, prime sponsor, explained Senate Bill 05-036 regarding the limitations on the driving privileges of newly licensed minor drivers and prohibiting such drivers from driving during certain hours or carrying passengers who are under 21 years of age. He responded to committee questions. Rep. May offered Attachments H and I, USA newspaper articles entitled, Deadly teen auto crashes show a pattern and The hazards of teen driving. He also offered Attachment J entitled Just The Facts: Teen Driving.

The following people testified:

11:39 AM -- Joe Corrigan, representing himself, testified against the bill. Mr. Corrigan is a father of six children. Two of his children are in high school. He explained that this bill may limit some children's level of activity at school. He responded to committee questions. The committee praised Mr. Corrigan for taking the time to testify.

11:58 AM -- Mary Greer, Colorado Automobile Association of America (AAA), and Norm Sherbert, representing AAA, testified in support of the bill. She indicated that while the bill will inconvenience some younger drivers for certain periods of time, it does offer some exemptions for activities that take place at schools. She noted that some studies have shown that 16-year-olds do not have the brain development to react in some driving situations. Ms. Greer also stated that there are over 20 states that have offered similar driver restrictions. Mr. Sherbert said that during Senate testimony on this bill, a Dr. Lowenstein testified about a study he had conducted related to this issue (Attachment K - Student Drivers: A Study of Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving 16-Year-Old Drivers." The study focuses on the driving judgment of 16 and 17-year-old drivers.

12:04 PM -- Dr. Farland Bottoms, representing On Angel's Wings, testified in support of the bill. He stated that his organization was started after the death of his own son. He recounted the experiences he has had related to young drivers, their injuries and fatalities that have occurred while driving. He pleaded with the committee to enact this bill.

12:08 PM -- Wayne Tully, representing the National Driver Training Institute, testified in support of the bill. He offered reasons why this bill should be enacted. He provided two articles from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Attachment L - "From age 16 to 16 1/2," and Attachment M - "Teenage Passengers in Motor Vehicle Crashes: A Summary of Current Research."

12:15 PM -- Wes Riber, Douglas County Coroner, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He also indicated that the Colorado Coroners' Association are in support of the bill. He recounted various teen death statistics in Douglas County and his experience as the coroner for the county.

12:19 PM -- David Hancock, representing the Teen Driving Coalition, testified in support of the bill. He noted that once teens get into a car without their parents, that the teens do not have to follow their parents rule. He believes that the inconvenience this bill might create are minimal compared to teen driving injuries and fatalities. He recounted some of his own experiences related to teen driving accidents.

12:22 PM -- Bill Imig, representing the Property and Casualty Insurers Association, testified in support of the bill. He believes that passage of the bill will reduce the teen accident rate and save lives.

12:23 PM -- Terry Campbell, representing the Colorado Department of Public Safety and the Colorado State Patrol, testified in support of the bill. He discussed statistics related to teen drivers. He responded to committee questions.
BILL:SB05-036
TIME: 12:25:47 PM
MOVED:McFadyen
MOTION:Referred SB 05-036 to the Committee of the Whole, unamended, with a favorable recommendation. The vote passed on a 8-2-1 vote.
SECONDED:Larson
VOTE
Borodkin
Yes
Cadman
No
Green
Yes
Hefley
Excused
Knoedler
Yes
Larson
Yes
Lindstrom
Yes
Ragsdale
No
Welker
Yes
McFadyen
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS