newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JEREMY SCHILLING

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Teens long for the day they can get away from their parents and use their newfound freedom from a driver’s license to do what they want, when they want.

Well, if the N.J. Legislature has its way, teens will have to wait a little longer.

According to CBS 2 New York, the bill the state legislature passed in recent days will require more hours logged with the learning permit, possibly taking up to a year to get a probationary license. Parents could also be required to take a teen driving safety course.

Some parents are not too pleased with the idea.

“It’s going to be tough on us parents,” said Toni Kaufmann to CBS. “It’s tough enough to get them through the course as it is.”

Other teens, however, think this measure will help their peers that could use more practice behind the wheel.

In the end, the measures in the proposed law will likely have a greater impact on new drivers than the Kyleigh's Law decal. According to a September 2011 survey, 70 percent of teen drivers with graduated drivers licenses do not display the state-mandated decal, some of them arguing that it makes them feel like a target.

While these measures can be annoying for some teens and their parents, legislators are trying to make the roads as safe as possible for N.J.'s newest drivers.

According to the Associated Press, the bill is on its way to Gov. Christie's desk. If signed, the law will go into effect in early 2013.