Hultgren Unveils STANDUP Act

April 29th, 2011 • Related • Filed Under

GENEVA—U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) announced at a press conference at Geneva High School on April 20 that he will be the lead Republican sponsor on legislation to protect the driving public, particularly teenagers, through the nationwide adoption of Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) laws.

“I was proud to support the Graduated Driver’s License program in Illinois when I served in our state legislature, and I’m excited to take those same ideas to Washington, D.C. to help make our roads safer,” said Hultgren, a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “The statistics are telling. We know that motor vehicle accidents are the number-one killer of American teens, and that teen drivers comprise only 7 percent of drivers on the road, yet 20 percent of all highway fatalities occur in crashes involving teen drivers. Action must be taken to educate teen drivers and protect everyone on our nation’s roadways.”

The legislation, H.R. 1515, the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act of 2011, urges all states to adopt GDL laws that meet specific minimum requirements within three years. Those requirements include:

• A three-stage licensing process—learner’s permit, intermediate stage, unrestricted driver’s license

• Prohibits night-time driving in the intermediate stage when teens are driving by themselves for the first time

• Passenger restrictions during the learner’s permit and intermediate stage (no more than one nonfamily member under the age of 21 unless a licensed driver over age 21 is in the vehicle)

• Prohibits non-emergency use of cell phones during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages

• Learner’s permit begins at age 16 while the full licensure begins at age 18

• Any other requirement adopted by the Secretary of Transportation, including learner’s permit holding period at least six months; intermediate stage at least six months, at least 30 hours behind-the-wheel; supervised driving by licensed driver 21 years of age or older; automatic delay of full licensure if permit holder commits an offense, such as DWI, misrepresentation of true age, reckless driving, unbelted driving, speeding, or other violations as determined by the Secretary.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of Americans between 15 and 20 years of age and that between 1999 and 2009, more than 90,000 Americans were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving teen drivers, an average of 155 deaths per week.

They also report that the fatality rate for teen drivers is four times higher than the rate for drivers between 25 and 70 years of age and that teenage drivers who are 16 years of age have a motor vehicle crash rate that is almost 10 times higher than the crash rate for drivers between 30 and 60 years of age.

“Between cell phones, GPS devices and satellite radio, today’s teen drivers are facing more distractions than the teens of prior generations,” Hultgren said. “Simply acclimating teen drivers to the responsibilities and rigors of the road saves lives, and Graduated Driver’s Licensing is a proven method to provide teens with the skills and experience they need to be out on the road safely.”

Hultgren added that according to the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, teen driving deaths dropped by over 40 percent in Illinois in the first full year following the 2007 implementation of a stronger graduated driver licensing law.

  • RM

    How about some real legislation that addresses the economy and jobs and the national debt. You’re trampling state’s rights. We can’t even make adults drive right. Watch how many people stop on the wrong side of the stop sign each day. How many people do you see actually stop at a stop sign or light when turning right? Let’s force adults to stop the dangerous practices of talking on the phone, fiddling with a GPS, watching movies while driving.

  • outdoor1

    Well, we can start by passing a collective bargaining bill like Wisconsin’s. They are on the right track. We can save a lot of money that way. It’s time the public sector put in their fair share of cuts to the debt that they create. How about cutting the budget for some of these schools too. 80% of my tax bill goes to the district. When is it enough? Someone please answer this question for me.

  • RM

    Wisconsin isn’t on the right track – in fact they’ve ridden right off the tracks. The governor has put his personal agenda ahead of the needs of the State of Wisconsin and the people. Public workers contribute to their retirement and pay a substantial portion of their health care. The savings from the governor’s actions are negligible and the real aim was to destroy unions. There is no free ride. I was a part of that system years ago. I cashed out when I left and I’m glad I did because in the current climate there is no longer any value in being a state employee or being vested in the system. Being an indentured servant is now back in vogue thanks to the Tea Party & Republicans. It’s all about serving the wealthy and big corporations at the expense of the people.

  • outdoor1

    Well RM I don’t know where you get your talking points from but let me give you a dose of reality. First of all Governor Walker (R) received 52.3% of the vote to 46.6% of the vote for Tom Barrett (D) in the last election of Nov. 2010 (Source: Real Clear Politics). Last time I checked this was a vote by the people of the state of Wisconsin. This is what Governor Walker ran on in his campaign and the people voted for that. For you to say it’s his personal agenda ahead of the needs of the state of Wisconsin and the people is just factually incorrect. The majority of people voted for Gov. Walker on this issue. The PEOPLE reiterated this vote by re-electing State Supreme court justice David Prosser to protect the bill from radical leftist judges. Also, Wisconsin state workers are not paying ANYTHING into their pension or health care as of right now. That is, until July 1st when Governor Walker’s bill goes into effect. So that is also factually incorrect on your part too. It’s one of the best climates in the nation if you are a state worker in Wisconsin and still will be I might add even with the new bill. The new bill suggests a state worker to now contribute 5.8% to their pension (about the national average) and 12.6% to their health care (about HALF the national average)http://walker.wi.gov/journal_media_detail.asp?prid=5625&locid=177.
    This from the office of the Governor and is public record. This is also better than Illinois, and Indiana. And lastly, Indentured servant? Do you even know what that is? To compare this to slavery is reprehensible and anyone in today’s world should know better than to bring slavery into this. I know many, many people in the private sector who would love to have what State Wisconsin workers have (and Illinois state workers too). Right now they are without jobs. Period. 8,000,000 unemployed and counting. Illinois and Wisconsin alike have not had ANY layoffs for state workers. I think it’s time. And please, please stop the misinformation or include sources. It is making you look foolish.

  • RM

    Here are the facts in the REAL world. 49% of the voters turned out in the Wisconsin race. Walker won by barely a majority of those who voted. So clearly if you can do math, a majority of the people of Wisconsin did NOT vote and did NOT vote for Walker (totaling @74% of registered voters). Walker’s agenda is that of a simple minded group who are easily convinced like sheep. When I was a Wisconsin State worker in the 1980′s, I paid into my pension and a portion of my health care. My salary was mediocre but I could live on it with a second job and no family. I don’t know what they are paying now for benefits but I don’t believe they are paying nothing without any legitimate references (excludes any quotes from Walker). Nobody gets free health care these days. Perhaps you should talk to live workers instead of believing in right wing propaganda. I know folks, including family, that would just like to have a job! How is laying off state workers in any state going to help the economy at this point when they will still have to be paid unemployment and there are few jobs available? Common sense says they’re better off on the payroll working. And I am well aware what an indentured servant is. It’s what Republicans are trying to return this country to.

  • RM

    outdoor1 – You state that Wisconsin employees aren’t paying anything into pensions or for health care. The real facts are that the pension system in Wisconsin is based on deferred compensation. Taxpayers in fact contribute nothing to state employee pensions because the pension system is 100% employee based. The pension plan is the direct result of deferred compensation that employees would have been paid as cash but they choose to have placed in the state operated pension fund where money can be professionally invested. 5% of employees earnings go into this fund. The pension agreements are the result of collective bargaining. The State of Wisconsin has failed to maintain these accounts (sound familiar?) so the governor wants to punish workers because the taxpayers have to insure the program. Health insurance was a tiered program when I worked for the State of Wisconsin. You could get the bottom of the barrel coverage for minimal upfront cost but the deductibles were high and the care was mediocre. You could pay more for better coverage. And lastly, numerous studies indicate that public workers, including those in Wisconsin, make @5% less than private sector workers. They are however, more likely to have better job security. As fewer workers can bargain collectively, the overall wage level falls – great if you’re an employer, not so much if you’re an employee.

  • outdoor1

    RM, First of all I included sources, did you look at them? They have proved my point. Second, what in the world are you talking about in your first 3-4 lines??? Can anyone understand that back and forth??? If taxpayers contribute nothing to state employee pensions then what does that mean? Aren’t Wisconsin state workers taxpayers too? But then you say state workers pay 5% into this fund. Tell me, where do you think this money comes from? I’ll answer that for you. It’s the private sector!! You are an employee of the people. Third, what happens when the state RUNS OUT OF MONEY because the private sector can’t create jobs due to government overreach??? Then how do you expect them to pay you. Your only point I agree with is that the politicians are mostly responsible for this with their frivolous spending habits. . What you don’t expand on is that it’s mostly LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC politicians. Who has run the state of Wisconsin and Illinois for probably most of your lifetime and mine into the gutter? Republicans don’t have any power here at the state level (that is until now in Wisconsin). But don’t worry, Gov. Walker will clean up the mess you left behind and left I might add. So now you know who to blame. As far as healthcare goes, we now are going to have Obamacare so everything is going to be free right? I can’t wait!! Lastly, where in the world are your sources? Or could you not find any.