North Carolina teenagers are being introduced to the concepts of too much regulation and the unintended consequences that inevitably come when good intentions seek to use government power as a way to avoid risk. The graduated licensing program for teen drivers was passed in reaction to fatal car crashes involving teenagers. But now, as teens and parents seek to comply with requirements to log driving hours — that’s right, log driving hours — in order to shed the requirement for front-seat supervision, teens and parents are realizing that legislators’ good intentions translate into onerous, confusing regulations for the targets.
The DMV has not explained the new logs to teens who have learner’s permits. Blank forms for the required logs have not been distributed.
“I know plenty of kids who don’t even know this law exists, and they haven’t started logging,” said Christina Goudreau, 15, who got her permit last October. “I know why they made the law, but it’s such a hassle.”
It looks like a “fix” will be made next month when legislators return to Raleigh. I hope teenagers remember this lesson and realize we must think carefully before reacting to risk by passing laws and regulations that come with an onerous web of compliance rules for the target audience –in this case, the vast majority of whom will never be in a car accident as a teen — yet are still required to negotiate the bureaucracy.
