Boston area Massachusetts registry of motor vehicles inspectors and local police recently conducted "Operation Graduation." They surprised teenage drivers at 33 Boston area high schools during a Massachusetts state-wide effort to get them to drive safer during prom and graduation season. The personal injury attorneys at the Boston office of Neil Burns have represented hundreds of children and teenagers after they have been injured in car accidents. "We are always looking at ways to keep our children and teenagers safe," says Boston personal injury attorney Neil Burns.
Boston area enforcement teams set up unannounced safety checks to reward teen drivers who were in compliance with the Massachusetts's junior operator and safety belt laws and warn those in violation about the consequences.
Preliminary reporting results showed 86% of the 4,457 teen drivers who were stopped by the check-points passed the safety inspection and were rewarded with key chains, pens and other goodies. Fifty-four junior operators violated the JOL passenger restriction and received verbal warnings and information on citations and fines. First-time offenders of this JOL requirement, which went into effect two years ago, are now subject to a mandatory 60-day license suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee.
Check-point teams also found that 14% (673) of those inspected were not wearing seat belts. Statistics compiled since the new junior operator law took effect show that teens are driving safer, the number of crashes and speeding citations has dropped, but junior operators are still not buckling up.
"I think it's clear that belt use is a major issue in Massachusetts," said Kathleen Collins, a Whitman-Hanson Regional High School junior and SADD member. "The latest stats show that Massachusetts now has the lowest belt use in the country at 67%. Like all teens, I care about my friends and my family and I want to keep them safe. Teens have the ability to be a part of the solution and we also have a duty to address the issue of belt use in MA. I'm excited to continue to encourage my friends, other youth, and adults around the state to buckle up."
This is the third year the RMV has conducted educational safety checks at Massachusetts high schools.
