In the state of Maryland over 500,000 people take the driving tests to obtain a drivers license each year. However, the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) has updated the educational curriculum by implementing new standards from the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association. These changes will call for parents of young new drivers to complete an orientation and for new drivers themselves to demonstrate a higher driving ability, then just the ordinary closed course, that tests stopping, parallel parking, three point turns and the use of turn signals.
According to Buel Young, spokesman for the MVA, students are going to be tested on their individual skills as a new driver. The on-the-road test will allow for the examination of new driver's driving ability, which includes driver's awareness of hazards, understanding of traffic signals and the ability to maintain intersections, curves and lane changes.
These changes for new drivers are being implemented in order to make roadways safer and reduce fatal crashes among new drivers. Statewide there were over 95,000 accidents reported in 2008, by the Maryland State Highwat Safety Foundation, which researches traffic safety.
As of October 2009, Cell phone use by driving instructors while teaching students behind the wheel has been prohibited.
The Highway Safety Foundation is also pushing for a change to the current text messaging, and overall use of cell phones while driving. Currently, if you use a cell phone, whether it is for texting purposes or phone use, you can face a fine of $500.
All of these changes will ultimately make driving safer for all of us. Of course there changes will take time, but the first step is to make the public aware of these changes and hope that the new laws are respected and obeyed.
