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A Closer Look: Driver’s Licenses and Safety
Allison Kaminsky
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Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability for New Mexicans under the age of 45. With one of the highest motor vehicle fatality rates in the nation, New Mexican adults, teenagers and children are at a high risk of being injured or killed in a vehicle related accident.
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Adam Middleditch / Staff Photographer
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The instructional vehicle of The Academy for Drivers Education sits empty outside the main office at 901 S. Main St. in Las Cruces.
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In 1992, New Mexico ranked first in the nation for crash deaths per capita. New Mexican motor vehicle related mortality rates have significantly decreased since then due to state imposed programs and legislation, yet New Mexico is still a problem state. In 2003, the U.S. Department of Transportation ranked New Mexico thirteenth in motor vehicle traffic crashes.
Twenty-eight states nationwide experienced impaired driving reductions in 2003 causing the first drop since 1999. Twelve of these states, including New Mexico, were Strategic Evaluation States, accounting for 75 percent of total alcohol-related fatality reduction. Research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates public education combined with highly visible law enforcement is an effective tool in decreasing drinking and driving.
Alcohol-involved crashes are also a leading cause of death and injury in New Mexico. Since 1994, Operation DWI has been reducing crashes and fatalities related to impaired driving. With the cooperation and participation of all 13 New Mexico State Police Districts, saturation patrols and checkpoints have been made possible statewide.
Drivers and passengers neglecting to wear seatbelts greatly contribute to the problem as the Division of Government Research estimates one-fifth of the motoring population which fails to buckle up is responsible for almost three-quarters of deaths. Operation Buckle Up America has succeeded in drastically increasing the percentages of seatbelt wearing Americans. According to research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, percentages have increased 12 percent since 1999.
New Mexico passed a Graduated Driver Licensing law that went into effect on January 1, 2000. There are three levels of graduated licensing in New Mexico. Drivers must be at least 15 years of age to apply for an Instructional Permit. To receive this permit, drivers must be currently enrolled in and attending an approved driver education course complete with DWI education. Drivers approved by the Traffic Safety Bureau may take correspondence courses to supplement general driver education courses.
To receive an Instructional Permit, the driver must pass a written knowledge test on driving rules, regulations and safety. If the applicant is under 18 years of age then a certificate of completion for the driver education course is required. A vision test will also be administered.
Provisions under the Instructional Permit are that the driver must either have an approved instructor or a driver who has been licensed for at least three years occupying the passenger seat. Those applying for a provisional license must have held an Instructional Permit for at least six months.
To obtain a Provisional License in New Mexico, a driver must be at least 15 and one-half years of age and have completed a minimum of 50 hours of supervised driving, at least 10 of which must be night-time driving. The driver must not have been convicted of any traffic violations within the 90-day period before applying to be eligible for the Provisional License.
A Provisional Driver License can be obtained after passing a road skills test. This license does not permit drivers to have more than one passenger, excluding immediate family members, under the age of twenty-one while driving. Also, a provisional driver may not operate any self-propelling vehicle on public highways between midnight and 5:00 a.m. This can only be bypassed if the driver is accompanied by a licensed driver twenty-one years or older or has a signed statement from the driver’s parent, legal guardian, employer, school official or religious official.
Once a minor reaches the age of majority he/she may seek an unrestricted license. Drivers are required to hold a provisional license for at least the 12-month period immediately preceding the application date. No traffic violations within the prior 90-day period can be committed or be pending during time of application. A driver may not receive an unrestricted license if any drug or alcohol convictions occurred within the provisional period.
During the 2004 legislative session, seven traffic safety bills were passed. These bills included the increase of maximum fines for DWI offenses and imposing more severe penalties for obtaining a driver license using forged documents. Also, a DWI offense involving the use of a commercial vehicle was upgraded to being a criminal per se offense. Also effective in March 2004, New Mexico lowered the DUI threshold and increased mandatory penalties.
New Mexico driving laws impose point system regulations on traffic offenses. At the accumulation of six points, the driver is warned by the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) of the possibility of suspension. After accumulating seven points, the MVD may suspend a driver’s license for a period no less than three months if a municipal or magistrate judge recommends such action. Twelve points or more received within twelve months will result in license suspension for no less than twelve months. A fee and a driver’s examination are required for license reinstatement.
For more information on traffic rules and regulations, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles webpage at www.dmv-department-of-motor-vehicles.com. For local information on initiatives and services, visit the Safer New Mexico Now webpage at www.safernm.org.
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