Fewer Teen Accidents Since Graduated Licenses Adopted

Friday, December 29th 2006, 8:42 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The number of 16- and 17-year-olds killed in traffic accidents in the state is down by nearly half since Oklahoma adopted a graduated driver's license late last year.

The graduated license restricts the driving privileges of the teenagers by limiting when they can drive and how many people they can have in the car with them.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office says the number of deaths is down from 20 in 2005 to eleven so far this year.

And the total number of 16- and 17-year-old drivers involved in traffic accidents is down by 444 from last year.

The restrictions end after six months if the teen passes a driver's education course and has no traffic convictions. Otherwise the restrictions remain for a full year.