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Kyleigh’s Law – Does it really prevent NJ car accidents?

Though New Jersey car accident fatality rates for teens are now among the lowest in the nation, one of the laws that might be responsible for this success is quite unpopular - Kyleigh's Law. The controversial NJ teen driving law, which is part of NJ's graduated driver license (GDL) program, went into effect in May 2010.

In case you are unfamiliar with the law, it was named after a 16-year old student who was killed in a NJ car accident in a car driven by another teen. Kyleigh's Law requires probationary NJ drivers (under the age of 21) to:

1. Affix a red decal on the front and rear license plate so that teen drivers can be more easily identified by police.

2. Limit the number of passengers in the car to one (when the driver is not accompanied by a parent).

3. Refrain from driving between the hours of 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.

4. Refrain from use of hand-held and hands-free electronic devices. (Note that the use of hand-held cell phones for talking and/or texting is a primary offense for all drivers in NJ).

Statistics show that the greatest number of teen driving accidents occur between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The hard data is easier for parents to accept in the protection of their children. Therefore, parents have not complained so vehemently about the limited driving hours that are part of the state's GDL program, especially since kids who have a documented job that keeps them out past 9:00 p.m. are exempted.

The unproven approach to teen driver safety - the red decals - is not such an easy sell and has come under strong fire in New Jersey. The intention of the identifying red decals is to help police more easily target novice drivers and enforce the provisions of NJ's teen driving laws in an effort to prevent NJ car accidents, injuries, and even death. However, opponents assert that the forced placement of decals does nothing to keep teens safe on New Jersey's roadways but instead is an invitation to deviants to prey upon defenseless youth, especially teen girls.

New Jersey is a densely populated state with overcrowded roadways. Mercer County car accidents and Burlington County car accidents are an everyday occurrence. Proponents of Kyleigh's Law also believe that it will cut down on the distracted driving epidemic.

If injured by another driver, you likely have grounds for recovery for your losses. Do not allow yourself to be taken advantage of by an insurance company. Seek protection from the trusted, experienced Mercer County injury law firm of Saile & Saile LLP.

We at Saile & Saile LLP represent injured individuals throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, specifically focusing on the following areas throughout the greater Philadelphia area and Delaware Valley including: Bucks County, Mercer County, Philadelphia, Trenton, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Chester County, Burlington County, Hunterdon County, Middlesex County, Camden County, Gloucester County, and North East Philly. In Bucks County we represent clients in Bensalem, Bristol, Levittown, Langhorne, Morrisville, Trevose, Feasterville, Warmister, Warrington, Buckingham, Yardley, New Hope, Doylestown, Chalfont, Sellersville, Reigelsville, Upper Bucks County, and Quakertown. Other areas include: Ewing, NJ, Hopewell, Lawrenceville, Hamilton, and West Trenton. Other areas: Montgomeryville, Horsham, Willow Grove, Jenkintown, Lansdale, Norristown, Conshohocken, East and West Norriton, Ardmore, King of Prussia, Broomall, Drexel Hill, Chester, Camden, Woodbury, Bellmar, Pennsauken, Marlton, Palmyra, Bordentown.