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EnCompass®
The AAA Companion |
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November | December 2004
Volume 78 Issue 6
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Tony DeNovellis
President and CEO
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President's Message
AAA members have spoken loud and clear about teen passenger restrictions
I'd like to begin by thanking AAA Colorado members for your support of our work on the issue of teen driving safety.
In the previous edition of EnCompass, I asked you to make your voice count by signing and returning a response card that demonstrated your support of a new teen passenger restriction bill for 2005. AAA Colorado is helping to develop the bill, which would not allow any passengers under 20 years of age in a vehicle with a newly licensed teenage driver during the first six months of licensing.
AAA Colorado believes that this component — teen passenger restrictions — is the last piece of the puzzle for a comprehensive Graduated Driver Licensing system for Colorado.
AAA Colorado members have spoken loud and clear in favor of this effort. As of late September, we've received more than 5,000 responses from AAA Colorado members. Moreover, the cards have come in from all over the state.
AAA Colorado has also received nearly 500 responses on our website, through an electronic "support" card that members and non-members can complete and return. If you haven't already weighed in on this issue, I encourage you to go online at www.aaa.com and complete the "e-support" card.
We plan a physical display of all the cards at the state legislature in January 2005 when the teen passenger restriction bill is introduced. We also plan to divide the cards by zip code and distribute copies of cards to each of the state legislators to demonstrate how strongly their constituents feel about the need for teen passenger restrictions.
I'm pleased to report that our "behind-the-scenes" efforts are right on track. In August, we met with several safety organizations and have created a Teen Driving Coalition.
And, importantly, a draft of a teen passenger restriction bill was presented to the Transportation Legislative Review Committee (TLRC) in September. This influential committee voted 13 to 1 to support the bill and introduce it to the Colorado State Legislature in January 2005.
Meanwhile, the coalition will continue its educational work with key legislators, the media, parents and teens to help ensure that this missing piece — teen passenger restrictions — is put into place.
The coalition has been encouraged and state legislators and media have been impressed by how strongly AAA Colorado members have come out in support of this legislation.
Thank you again for making your voice count — We couldn't have gone this far without you.
Tony DeNovellis
President and CEO
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