NTSB BOARD MEMBER DEBBIE HERSMAN TO PRESENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS TO KENTUCKY OFFICIALS

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

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                       NTSB ADVISORY
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

April 25, 2006

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NTSB BOARD MEMBER DEBBIE HERSMAN TO PRESENT LEADERSHIP 
AWARDS TO KENTUCKY OFFICIALS


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        The National Transportation Safety Board is presenting 
awards to Governor Ernie Fletcher and to two legislators, 
Senate President David Williams and Representative Tom 
Burch, for their initiative and outstanding leadership in 
promoting and adopting laws to authorize primary safety belt 
enforcement and to create a 3-stage graduated driver 
licensing system in Kentucky.  

        Safety Board Member Deborah A.P. Hersman will give the 
conference closing speech and present the awards on April 
26, 2006 during the closing plenary session of the Kentucky 
Lifesavers Conference.  

        The Safety Board maintains a Most Wanted list of safety 
recommendations because of their potential to save lives. This 
list includes both primary safety belt enforcement and 
graduated driver licensing laws.  In June of 1995, Safety 
Board recommended that States enact legislation that provides 
for primary enforcement of seat belt laws.  In 1997, the 
Safety Board again called for the States to enact primary 
enforcement. Primary enforcement remains on the list because 
of its potential to save many lives.

        After reviewing crashes involving novice drivers under 
the age of 21, in 1993 the Safety Board recommended that 
Kentucky and the other States take several specific actions, 
including implementation of a comprehensive provisional 
license system for young novice drivers, also known as 
graduated driver licensing (GDL).  The model program 
requires young novice drivers to proceed through three 
stages - a learner's permit, an intermediate or provisional 
license, and a full license.  GDL establishes restrictions, 
such as passenger, cell phone, and nighttime driving 
restrictions, so that, until the driver has had an 
opportunity to gain experience, initial driving occurs in 
less dangerous circumstances.  Restrictions are lifted after 
successful completion of the learning and intermediate 
stages, without any moving violations or crashes attributed 
to the driver.

        Kentucky estimates that if all Kentuckians used seat 
belts there would be 279 fewer fatalities per year and that 
a 10 percent increase in use (from 66.5 to 76.5 percent) 
would prevent 62 traffic deaths each year.  The State also 
estimates that graduated drivers licensing will save 27 teen 
lives in Kentucky each year.

        The Conference is being held at the Clarion Hotel and 
Conference Center, 9700 Blue Grass Parkway, Louisville, 
Kentucky.


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NTSB Media Contact:  Keith Holloway, (202) 314-6100





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