The new safety provisions included S. 1449, also called "Mariah's Law " for an Arkansas teen killed in a crash involving texting, address teen driver licensing, improved motor vehicle safety standards, distracted and impaired driving, child passenger safety, and safety defect and consumer information reforms

Major provisions of teen driving legislation, S.528, the Safe Teen And Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act, introduced by Senator Gillibrand and co-sponsored by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), are in the MVHSIA. MVHSIA includes a $22 million grant program to encourage state adoption of teen driving laws that phase in driving privileges as a teen becomes more experienced behind the wheel. States that qualify for funds would need to have laws that at a minimum begin the intermediate GDL stage at age 16 and include restrictions on the number of teen passengers allowed with a novice driver, a ban on cell phone use and nighttime driving limits until age 18.

Click here to read the full press relase from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who made phone calls, sent messages, and personally met with your Members of Congress in support of the STANDUP Act.  Your voices were heard!  There is still much work to be done to advance safety for teen drivers, but the introduction of S. 1449 goes a long way toward ensuring that someday every teen in every state will benefit from strong, comprehensive Graduated Driver Licensing laws.