By Roberta Rampton Winnipeg bureau Manitoba farm families with young teenagers are anxiously awaiting new driver licensing regulations planned for the province. The provincial government introduced a new law in December that introduces a graduated licensing system. The details will be in the regulations. It may take three years under the new system for young drivers to become fully licensed. According to government statistics, new drivers are nearly three times more likely than the average driver to be involved in accidents.
Statistics show that graduated licensing systems lower the number of crashes and traffic deaths.
After passing a test, the intermediate permit would allow the driver to have more than one passenger, but puts some restrictions on night driving. After passing an advanced test, the probationary permit would permit passengers and night driving, but not commercial drivers' licences. Keystone Agricultural Producers' members are concerned about how the new rules will affect rural families who don't have access to public transportation. When Hamblin's eldest son got his licence, Chris and husband Lorne were able to become more involved in farm and community groups because they didn't have to chauffeur as much. Their second-oldest son also has his licence now, and drives himself to curling games in Winnipeg once a week.