NY reps strip seat belt requirement from teen driving law

Diane Mangle holds up a photo of her daughter Katie, whose death in2005 spurred legislation that died over of seat belt use

The New York bill will bring New York’s graduated drivers license laws up to par with many other states in many typical ways: restrictions on cell phone use, passengers and night driving, increased behind the wheel time, and increased permitting time. Currently, New York and New Hampshire are the only states where you can get a license after being permitted for less than six months. New Hamphire will suddenly be the odd man out.

The bill is pretty standard practice now days for states that are below the recommended federal restrictions for new drivers. Even though New York’s laws are stricter than 39 other states, they are still below standards that recommend 50 hours of behind the wheel and other restrictions. Currently, New York only requires 20 hours of behind the wheel experience before getting a license. However, if the system works like it does in California, it is an honor system that is easy to forge.

Here is the part of the article that gets me angry:

A less ambitious measure passed the Assembly last year but died in the Republican- led Senate over last-minute objections by some Long Island Republi- can (sic) members concerned about a requirement that back-seat passengers wear seat belts.

That provision has now been stripped from the new comprehensive bill, which was introduced by Gov. David A. Paterson’s Department of Motor Vehicles, to prevent any of last year’s problems from resurfacing this session.

Seat belt use is lowest among teens. Just this Saturday Jessica Perla of Encino was killed in a rollover crash because she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Matthew Berry was also killed in a crash this weekend as well while not wearing a seatbelt. There are more too, I know there are. I know there are because in 2006 2,813 teens killed in car crashes were unrestrained. That was 58%! Nearly 60% of teen deaths in one year had lack of a seat belt as a factor, and yet, New York legislatures don’t want to require that passengers over the age of 16 wear a seat belt.
Why?

Selfishness.

This article from last year discusses the death of the bill that could have increased standards and probably saved lives:

Some state senators also do not like to use seat belts while riding in the back seats of their staff-driven cars on their long commutes to and from the State Capitol, according to one source close to the issue.

Shame on you! Shame on all of you who voted against this bill because you don’t like wearing a seat belt or because of samantics over what is the proper way to wear a seat belt. I will try to find all of your names, and the names of any people who do not vote for this bill and publish them for your shameful acts to be unveiled.