THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 14, 1997 TAG: 9701140198
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Local Briefs
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 28 lines
A hearing is scheduled for 7 tonight on a statewide proposal that will make it more difficult for teen-aged drivers to become fully licensed.
Graduated driver licensing would require anyone under age 18 to acquire full driving privileges over an 18-month period.
Now, 16- and 17-year-olds can get a driver's license with as little as six hours of behind-the-wheel training in driver's education.
Under the proposal, teen drivers would have to pass three competency tests and turn in a violation-free performance before they had full privileges.
Parents, teen-agers, law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates are expected to attend the community forum at the Holiday Inn on Hughes Boulevard.
The meeting is one of eight forums being held around the state to gauge public opinion on the proposal, expected to be debated during the upcoming General Assembly.
Proponents believe graduated driver licensing will help young drivers gain experience under supervised conditions and reduce the number of serious highway accidents and deaths.
If the driver begins the program at age 15, a full provisional license can be obtained by age 16 1/2.