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Editorial
Time to revive ignition interlock for teen drivers?
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Remember ignition interlocks?
For one year, 1974, American cars were equipped with a gizmo that prevented cars from starting if the driver's seat belt wasn't buckled.
You may be familiar with another modern-day ignition interlock if you've run afoul of laws against driving while intoxicated.
Unless you can blow alcohol-free breath into this device, you'll have to walk or find someone to give you a ride.
Perhaps it's time to put some modern technology to use to make driving safer for Nebraska teenagers.
They could use some help, according to a WalletHub analysis of "2016's Best & Worst States for Teen Drivers."
With 1 being the safest state for teen drivers and 25 average, Nebraska's scores are frightening.
We're 49th in the number of teen DUIs per teen population, 44 in teen fatalities, 46 in presence of teen driver's graduated licensing program laws and 42 for the presence of distracted - driving / texting - while - driving laws.
Other rankings include 38 for quality of roads, 31 for number of vehicle miles traveled per capita and 28th on provision of occupant-protection laws.
We're above aveage only in the auto insurance premium increase after adding a teen drive, 22nd.
We're surprised Nebraska hasn't climbed in the rankings much since our teen texting and graduated drivers license laws have gone into effect.
But it's not surprising that our state has a disproportionate number of accidents with teen drivers. Much of our state's small population is spread out over an expansive geography, and continuing consolidation of high schools requires teens to travel farther and farther to go to school.
Adapting a smartphone app to help ensure a teen driver is sober, alert and buckled in before putting the car in gear wouldn't require much trouble or expense.
Now that we think about it, the same technology could help make older drivers safer as well. Plus, some of that same technology will soon take human drivers out of the equation entirely.
Ignition interlocks were too far ahead of their time, and the driver revolt quickly led to their demise.
When it comes to the safety of our inexperienced teenage drivers, however, more advanced versions of that technology will become increasingly attractive.
Check out the original WalletHub report here: http://bit.ly/28LjlRb