Connecticut weighs rule change on sibling passengers for new teen drivers

Connecticut lawmakers are debating whether 16‑ and 17‑year‑old drivers should be allowed to transport their siblings during their first six months behind the wheel, a change that would directly affect families across the state.

Under current law, new teen drivers are limited to having only a parent or a driving instructor in the car for the first six months. No siblings are allowed during that initial period. In the second six months, drivers can have “immediate family” in the car.

The proposal, Senate Bill 234, would allow a sibling passenger from the first day a teen is licensed, with no parent required.

Killingworth brothers Matthew and Tyler Medina, who turn sixteen next month, said they will be affected immediately.

“We’re twins, and we’re going to be in this situation soon ourselves,” Matthew said.

The brothers are high school tennis players at Haddam-Killingworth High School, and their parents drive them across the state for matches, clinics, and practice.

“We go to a lot of places at the same time,” Matthew said.

Once they get their license, for the first six months, neither teen would be able to drive because the other brother would count as a banned passenger. That’s even with a parent in the vehicle.

“That means that the other brother would have to have another parent accompanying him in a second car, which really makes things like really complicated,” Tyler said.

The brothers’ family said if they want the boys to get driving practice, the restriction forces them to take two cars and creates additional expenses.

Both twins sent written testimony to the state’s transportation committee, which held a hearing on the bill on Monday. They said it limits their ability to gain driving experience.

“Without this change, only our mother would be able to drive us daily, which limits our opportunity to build the experience that driver permit time is meant to provide,” Matthew wrote in his testimony.

Tyler suggested in his testimony that the trip be directly “to or from school, work, medical appointments, or extracurricular activities.”

“The exemption would not apply to driving with friends,” he wrote.

On Monday, Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Tony Guerrera spoke against the bill during the public hearing.

“I don’t think we should be touching this bill,” Guerrera said. “It’s just about the distractions.”

Guerrera cited data from a 2012 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

• Compared to driving with no passengers, a 16- or 17-year-old driver’s risk of death per mile driven:
  • Increases 44% when carrying one passenger younger than 21 (and no older passengers). Doubles when carrying two passengers younger than 21 (and no older passengers). Quadruples when carrying three or more passengers younger than 21 (and no older passengers)
  • Decreases 62% when a passenger aged 35 or older is in the vehicle

“The risks are clearly documented,” Guerrera said.

AAA, which also opposes Senate Bill 234, reminded lawmakers how Connecticut strengthened its teen driving laws in 2008.

Fatal crashes among 16‑ and 17‑year‑old drivers dropped from at least 12 each year to single digits. Last year, there were four.

“We want to keep that momentum. We don’t want to move in the opposite direction,” said Alec Slatky, Managing Director of Public and Government Affairs, AAA Northeast.

Lawmakers on the Transportation Committee said they understand the arguments on both sides.

“I definitely see both sides of this,” Sen. Christine Cohen said.

The Transportation Committee chair said her three children were impacted by the current law because it didn’t allow them to travel to school or sports practices together. She also said she understands the distractions that teen drivers already face with cell phones.

“It’ll be interesting as we move forward and have this discussion,” Cohen said during the committee meeting.

Sen. Tony Hwang said he also sees competing priorities.

“We realize it’s all about roadway safety, and I think, if I may, that this consistency of not allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to have siblings or anybody in their car is a focus on that. And it is a little bit of an encroachment in regards to personal liberties, but it definitely shows that it’s safe and it prevents potential risk and danger on our roadways,” Hwang said in committee.

Neighboring states take a different approach. Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island all allow immediate family members to ride with new teen drivers from day one.

Gov. Ned Lamont said he is still reviewing the proposal.

“Let me talk to the parents, and let me talk to DMV to tell you the truth. I think I would let them take the lead on rules like that,” Lamont said.

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