Lawmaker wants warning labels posted on cars driven by teens

Wouldn’t it be nice if cars with bad or inexperienced drivers had warning labels on them so you could steer clear of them? One Washington lawmaker wants to require those type of warning labels, at least for young drivers.

State representative Liz Pike has introduced what she calls the “Teen Driving Safety Act” or
HB 1159. It would require a bumper sticker-sized warning label on any car being driven by someone 19 years old or younger.

“The driver decal would be made of static-cling material, and it says ‘new driver,'” explained Pike. “It has white letters on a red decal, and it would affix to the inside of the rear window.”

The decal would be removable and replaceable so your teen would be able to put it on any car they are driving.

Pike said this really isn’t going to make these young drivers any better, but it will warn other drivers to give them a wide berth.

“It allows the other drivers to be more defensive, I think,” she said. “I think it will allow other motorists to, sort of, help them be better drivers.”

Pike said the stats on teen drivers are what’s driving this. In her district, Clark County, teens account for way more serious accidents and fatal accidents than they should.

“Thirty to 45 percent of all fatalities and serious injury accidents are involved with young drivers that are 16 to 20 years old,” she said. “We need to address this.”

Would Representative Pike support a bill that would make similar requirements for drivers over 70 years old? She said that’s a possibility, but right now the accident rate for older drivers doesn’t even come close to the rate for teens. She’s focused on the bigger accident group.

Under Pike’s proposal, every teen driver would be required to buy a sticker as soon as they apply for a learner’s permit. The cost would be a few dollars.

Failure to put the sticker in the back window could result in a fine of up to $250.