Kyleigh’s Law was put in place to make other drivers aware of young drivers on the road and cautious and patient with those young drivers. It requires that new drivers purchase and place red decals on the license plates on their cars.
As teenage drivers, we feel that the requirement to use the red decals is unsafe, unfair, and targets young drivers. Instead of other drivers being more patient and understanding, when they see the red decals, they become more easily irritated. They tailgate, honk, and are unnecessarily rude. They make new drivers feel uncomfortable and worry more about their driving.
Additionally, the red decals point out young drivers to potential predators. This makes drivers using the decals vulnerable and possibly in danger. A friend of ours who was driving one night was followed all the way home. She was too scared to get out of her car and the other car left only after her mother came out of the front door.
Very few drivers we know actually use the decals. They recognize the dangers of using the red decals and feel that the risks greatly outweigh the benefits. Even a lot of parents agree. They would rather pay the $100 fine than have their child potentially in danger. Instead of keeping teenagers safe, the red decals cause young drivers to be targets to other mature drivers and predators.
We support the enactment of A-2815 to replace Kyleigh’s Law. It adds to the system already in place in police cars and has teenage drivers register their cars so they can still be detected if they are breaking the law. This alternative can be equally as effective as, and far safer than, Kyleigh’s Law.
Molly Fisch-Friedman
High School North, Class of ’12
Nishitha Kumar
High School South, Class of ’12
