Editorial: Teens need this law

Monday, Feb. 21, 2005 | 8:53 a.m.

It's every community's nightmare: the crash of a carload of high-school-aged teenagers. Sean Larimer was the driver in one such accident in Las Vegas. He was 16 the night of Nov. 23, 2003, when he lost control of his speeding car and drove into a brick wall. The accident killed three of his close friends. He is now serving a two-year sentence in the Clark County Detention Center. From his cell, he wrote a letter to the Legislature, urging it to pass a law requiring "graduated" licenses for teens.

The letter was read last week at a joint hearing of the Assembly and Senate Transportation committee. Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, has introduced bills calling for such a law since 1997. This time, with the letter from Larimer in hand, and after having heard live testimony from his mother, the Legislature seems more inclined to approve a law.

We hope it does. Today, anyone aged 15 years and 9 months can get a driver's license. Bills under consideration by the Assembly and Senate would increase the age to 16, and would require those 16 and 17 to first hold a learner's permit for six months. After that, there would be a series of graduated restrictions before the full privilege to drive would be granted.

In our view, the learner's permit should be required for a year. But at least this law would be a good start toward safer lives for our young drivers.