Minnesota STANDUP supporters: Post a comment in support of safer teen driving!

STANDUP Act is introduced in the U.S. SENATE; Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is a sponsor

The Safe Teen And Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act was introduced yesterday, April 28, in the U.S. Senate by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

The legislation has been assigned the bill number S. 3269.

Crashes involving teen drivers kill ELEVEN people in less than a week in Minnesota

April 19 - Blake Eckert (16) was killed in a one-vehicle crash in Winona County.

April 23 - Shauna Ruhoff (16), Morgan Zeller (13), and Katie Hornberg (14) were killed in a one-vehicle crash in Winona County.

April 25 - Josh Netzel (24), Aaron Neuschwander (23), Travis Gryczkowski (21), Travis Buchan (17), Tres Whitefeather (16), and Kelsee Blackledge (15) were killed in a two-car crash near Cambridge.

April 26 - Deanna Anderson (16) was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Onamia.

Got a minute?
Speak up for safe teen driving!

April 29, 2010

Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune had good coverage of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar's sponsorship of the STANDUP Act, S. 3269. (Click here for the story.)

However, the reader comments to the story are overwhelmingly negative. The strong negative response seems surprising considering that 11 people were killed in the last week in Minnesota teen-driver-related crashes.

Positive comments about the STANDUP Act are needed today. Please take five minutes to post a comment in support of the STANDUP Act and in support of Senator Klobuchar's sponsorship of the bill.

Here are some message points to consider:

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of teens in Minnesota and across the United States.

Every year in the United States more than 6,400 people are killed in crashes involving teen drivers - thousands of them teens themselves. That's the equivalent of a major plane crash every week.

Research has proven that strong Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs reduce the crash risk of new teen drivers and save lives.

State teen driving laws still vary widely in strength and effectiveness from state to state. Every teen in every state should be protected by a strong, effective GDL law.

Why are we as Minnesotans OK with the fact that our teens are not as well protected as teens in many other states? Do we love our kids less than the people of New York, Delaware, Illinois, or other states with stronger, more effective GDL laws?

A national law is needed to close gaps in state laws and encourage states to upgrade weak GDL laws. Without a law like the STANDUP Act, states with weak GDL laws might take years to take action -- or they might never pass stronger laws. That's not acceptable.

Thanks to Senator Klobuchar for her leadership on this legislation which will save lives in Minnesota and across the nation.

Please pass this request along to anyone who might be willing to post a positive comment. Commenters don't need to be from Minnesota, but if you have contacts in the state who will comment that would be fantastic.

Thank you for your support!

Thank you for supporting the STANDUP Act and the Saferoads4teens Coalition!

The Safe Teen And Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act is federal legislation that would compel states to strengthen their laws for novice teen drivers, often called Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws.

For more information, please contact Jenny Cheek at 202-408-1711 (ext. 15) or at jcheek@saferoads.org.

Check out the Saferoads4teens website at www.saferoads4teens.org.