I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1866
To promote the implementation of programs to improve the traffic safety
performance of high risk drivers.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 15, 1995
Mr. WOLF (for himself, Mr. BAKER of Louisiana, Mr. BLUTE, Mr. DAVIS, Mr.
FROST, Mr. HANSEN, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mrs. MORELLA, and Mr. REYN-
OLDS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To promote the implementation of programs to improve the
traffic safety performance of high risk drivers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘High Risk Drivers Act
of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Nation’s traffic fatality rate has de-
clined from 5.5 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles
traveled in 1966 to an historic low of an estimated
1.8 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled
during 1992. In order to further this desired trend,
the safety programs and policies implemented by the
Department of Transportation must be continued,
and at the same time, the focus of these efforts as
they pertain to high risk drivers of all ages must be
strengthened.
(2) Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause
of death among teenagers, and teenage drivers tend
to be at fault for their fatal crashes more often than
older drivers. Drivers who are 16 to 20 years old
comprised 7.4 percent of the United States popu-
lation in 1991 but were involved in 15.4 percent of
fatal motor vehicle crashes. Also, on the basis of
crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers, young drivers
are the highest risk group of drivers.
(3) During 1991, 6,630 teenagers from age 15
through 20 died in motor vehicle crashes. This trag-
ic loss demands that the Federal Government inten-
sify its efforts to promote highway safety among
members of this high risk group.
(4) The consumption of alcohol, speeding over
allowable limits or too fast for road conditions, inad-
equate use of occupant restraints, and other high
risk behaviors are several of the key causes for this
tragic loss of young drivers and passengers. The De-
partment of Transportation, working cooperatively
with the States, student groups, and other organiza-
tions, must reinvigorate its current programs and
policies to address more effectively these pressing
problems of teenage drivers.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) HIGH RISK DRIVER.—The term ‘‘high risk
driver’’ means a motor vehicle driver who belongs to
a class of drivers that, based on vehicle crash rates,
fatality rates, traffic safety violation rates, and other
factors specified by the Secretary, presents a risk of
injury to the driver and other individuals that is
higher than the risk presented by the average driver.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Transportation.
SEC. 4. POLICY AND PROGRAM DIRECTION.
(a) GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF SECRETARY.—
The Secretary shall develop and implement effective and
comprehensive policies and programs to promote safe driv-
ing behavior by young drivers, older drivers, and repeat
violators of traffic safety regulations and laws.
(b) SAFETY PROMOTION ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary
shall promote or engage in activities that seek to ensure
that—
(1) cost effective and scientifically-based guide-
lines and technologies for the nondiscriminatory
evaluation and licensing of high risk drivers are
advanced;
(2) model driver training, screening, licensing,
control, and evaluation programs are improved;
(3) uniform or compatible State driver point
systems and other licensing and driver record infor-
mation systems are advanced as a means of identify-
ing and initially evaluating high risk drivers; and
(4) driver training programs and the delivery of
such programs are advanced.
(c) DRIVER TRAINING RESEARCH.—The Secretary
shall explore the feasibility of advisability of using cost ef-
ficient simulation and other technologies as a means of
enhancing driver training; shall advance knowledge re-
garding the perceptual, cognitive, and decision making
skills needed for safe driving and to improve driver train-
ing; and shall investigate the most effective means of inte-
grating licensing, training, and other techniques for pre-
paring novice drivers for the safe use of highway systems.
TITLE I—YOUNG DRIVER PROGRAMS
SEC. 101. STATE GRANTS FOR YOUNG DRIVER PROGRAMS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.—Chapter
4 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
‘‘§ 411. Programs for young drivers
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—Subject to the provi-
sions of this section, the Secretary shall make basic and
supplemental grants to those States which adopt and im-
plement programs for young drivers which include meas-
ures described in this section to reduce traffic safety prob-
lems resulting from the driving performance of young driv-
ers. Such grants may only be used by recipient States to
implement and enforce such measures.
‘‘(b) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.—No grant may be
made to a State under this section in any fiscal year unless
such State enters into such agreements with the Secretary
as the Secretary may require to ensure that such State
will maintain its aggregate estimated expenditures from
all other sources for programs for young drivers at or
above the average level of such expenditures in its 2 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which this section is en-
acted.
‘‘(c) FEDERAL SHARE.—No State may receive grants
under this section in more than 5 fiscal years. The Federal
share payable for any grant under this section shall not
exceed—
‘‘(1) in the first fiscal year a State receives a
grant under this section, 75 percent of the cost of
implementing and enforcing in such fiscal year the
young driver program adopted by the State pursuant
to subsection (a);
‘‘(2) in this second fiscal year the State receives
a grant under this section, 50 percent of the cost of
implementing and enforcing in such fiscal year such
program; and
‘‘(3) in the third, fourth, and fifth fiscal years
the State receives a grant under this section, 25 per-
cent of the cost of implementing and enforcing in
such fiscal year such program.
‘‘(d) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BASIC GRANTS.—Sub-
ject to subsection (c), the amount of a basic grant made
under this section for any fiscal year to any State which
is eligible for such a grant under subsection (e) shall equal
30 percent of the amount apportioned to such State for
fiscal year 1989 under section 402 of this title. A grant
to a State under this section shall be in addition to the
State’s apportionment under section 402, and basic grants
during any fiscal year may be proportionately reduced to