PCI PRAISES HAWAII GOVERNOR ON LICENSE BILL:

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America praised Gov. Linda Lingle for signing into law legislation that will establish a graduated driver’s license program designed to save lives and reduce accidents involving young, teen drivers. “Graduated licenses that place restrictions on young drivers have been successful in other states in reducing crashes, injuries and deaths,” said Sam Sorich, PCI’s regional vice president. The new law, which will go into effect Jan. 9, 2006, establishes a three-stage graduated driver licensing program for individuals under the age of 18. A graduated license holder will be prohibited from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian. In addition, the licensee can transport just one non-family person under the age of 18 after 5 a.m. and before 11 p.m., unless a licensed guardian or parent is also in the vehicle. The driver and passengers also will be required to wear seat restraints. Violators of these provisions will have their licenses revoked for three months after the first offense and six months for a second offense. Sorich noted that a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found vehicle deaths involving 16-year-old drivers decreased 30 percent between 1993 and 2003 in states that enacted graduated drivers license programs.