Teens seem to be driving more safely since the state increased fines and penalties for its youngest drivers, according to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Teen drivers are getting caught a third less often taking risks behind the wheel, a trend the Registry believes is due to the state's beefed up junior operator law.
The death toll for teen drivers dropped 33 percent in the 12 months since the new fines and penalties were implemented. The new rules affect 16- and 17-year-old drivers.
The news is no surprise to Andover High School senior Arti Tewari, 16, who received her learner's permit in November and recently graduated from Andover Auto School.
"We spent a whole class on it," said Tewari of the junior operator law changes. "We spend a lot of time in class going over the fines. A lot of us were surprised at how steep the fines were on your JOL."
Beginning March 31 of last year, teen drivers faced losing their license for up to a year for first-time convictions for drag-racing, operating under the influence, speeding, driving with passengers and driving after curfew, according to the Registry.
Along with license suspensions, first-time offenders were forced to pay fines ranging from $100 to $500 for violating the junior operator law.
"Seeing the consequences makes a difference," said Tewari. "Having to potentially lose your license for a year or pay hundreds of dollars in fines definitely makes you a little more cautious."
Junior operator crash fatalities, including passengers, are also down — from 19 in 2006 to 13 in 2007.
"We're encouraged that the numbers are moving in the direction that we want them to move," said Ann Dufresne, Registry spokeswoman. "The goal is obviously to encourage teenage drivers to drive safer."
In Andover, any drop in such data has not been apparent under the new fine and penalty structure for junior operators, according to Lt. James Hashem.
"The violations do occur," said Hashem. "I don't think you're going to see a big fluctuation on such a small scale. Statewide, I'm sure there was fluctuation on the violations."
But the new penalties and fines are working, according to Elizabeth Marascia, owner of Andover Auto School on Main Street.
"Now the penalty of getting caught is higher," said Marascia. "It has been working. Now they're serious. They're following through with all those fines and penalties."
"I'm not surprised at all," she said. "I knew they would have a positive effect."
Tewari said the passenger restrictions under the junior operator law help reduce driver distraction. Once Tewari gets her license, she will be able to drive only with an older relative or younger sibling during the first six months.
"You start having all your friends in there and the radio's going, and they're laughing and joking and having a good time," said Marascia. "That six-month period allows them to concentrate."
Dufresne said that for every additional passenger riding with an inexperienced driver, the chances of getting into an accident increase four times.
"Data has shown that having passengers in the car is a major distraction for teenage drivers more than anything else," said Dufresne.
The junior operator law also enforces a curfew on junior operators.
"I think it's important to have that curfew," said Marascia. "Some parents set their own. After the hour of one in the morning, that's when a lot of the accidents do occur."
Hashem agreed that such restrictions were put in place for good reason.
"Those things should be restricted," said Hashem. "The time of day and who's in the car with you certainly plays into how distracted the young driver is."
According to the Registry, Massachusetts was the first state to require that parents of young drivers take a two-hour driver's education class to learn about the new junior operators law penalties.
"They're well aware of what the new laws are," said Marascia. "That's had some positive effects. I've done quite a lot of them and the parents were happy to be there."
Hashem said he could not recall any teen driving fatalities in Andover in many years.
Ten of the 13 junior operators killed in crashes in 2007 were not wearing seatbelts, according to RMV data, which is why Dufresne said the hope is to do a better job informing young drivers of the importance of wearing them.
"Seat belts save lives," said Dufresne. "That's the big push, particularly as we approach the prom and graduation season."
Before her junior prom, Tewari said police brought a car to Andover High that had been in a drunk-driving accident to illustrate the consequences of risk-taking behavior.
"Andover High is actually really good about awareness in that aspect," said Tewari. "There's definitely not a lack of information. I think there's definitely an awareness."
