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New study pushing tougher laws for teen drivers in Iowa
A new study says tougher restrictions on Iowa's teenage drivers could have saved the lives of 32 young drivers in 2009.
The Des Moines Register reports that the study report issued Tuesday includes suggested standards: requiring drivers to be 16 before earning a learner's permit and restricting passengers to no more than one nonfamily passenger under 21 unless a licensed driver older than 21 is in the vehicle.
Teen driving deaths are falling nationally but have remained flat or grown slightly among 16- to 18-year-old drivers in Iowa.
Iowa has a graduated driver's licensing program, but it's not as strict as programs in some other states.
The study was released by the Allstate Foundation, a nonprofit arm of insurance giant Allstate.
Ryan Borcherding shows off with a carful of friends in the beginning of an Iowa Department of Transportation driver education video. The video portrays his progression through the steps of the graduated driver licensing program - where teen-agers must go through two stages before receiving their permanent license. (image taken from Iowa Department of Transportation video)
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