New Rules Could Save Teen's Life

Last week, I talked about the restrictions under the Massachusetts graduated licensing/junior operator law. The law applies to licensed motor vehicle operators younger than 18. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles has published a guide to inform parents on how they can help young drivers stay legal and more importantly, stay safe. 

The guide is available online at www.mass.gov/rmv.

Since there are several new young drivers heading to and from school, work, etc., the would like to offer these useful tips from that guide:

• Don’t allow your junior operator to drive friends to or from school, a dance, game or other function. If your child is subject to the passenger restriction, there is no exception.
• Don’t let your child ride with other junior operators subject to the restriction, except with a licensed adult.
• Establish your own “family penalty” for a violation. Make it serious and let your child know it in advance. Create a contract with your teen driver that explains his or her responsibilities or use the young driver-parent/guardian contract found on www.mass.gov/rmv.
• Don’t turn your inexperienced young driver into the family taxi driver for your other children.
• If your new driver has the car after school and on weekends, make sure you know who else is in it.
• Never choose convenience over safety. Don’t turn your back on violations because other parents do. Remember, it’s your child’s life.
• Tell your junior operator to always drive carefully and to plan on getting home before midnight. Also tell them that getting home before midnight is never a reason to speed or to drive erratically.
• Don’t let your junior operator drive late at night without proper supervision.
• There is no exception from the time restrictions so don’t let your child convince you that there is.
• Don’t ask your junior operator to run an errand late at night with the car if they may be out after midnight.
• Insist on seat belts. Remind your teens to buckle up every time they get in a vehicle, whether they are drivers or passengers.  Also, you should lead by example: Buckle up every trip, every time, day and night.
• Always practice good driving behavior so that you are a model for your teen driver.
• Forbid use of a cell phone while driving. It's against the law for a junior operator to use a cell phone to talk, text, or do anything else while driving (except report an emergency).

Anyone with questions for the Chief’s Column may submit them by mail to the Grafton Police Department, 28 Providence Road, Grafton, MA 01519. You may also email your questions or comments to chief@graftonpolice.com. Please include an appropriate subject line as I do not open suspicious email for obvious reasons. 

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr. is Grafton's Chief of Police.