New license limits put to test

By Scott North

Herald Writer

It’s one of the toughest parts of John Lovick’s job.

More times than he’d like to remember during his 26-year career, the Washington State Patrol trooper has found himself pulling into somebody’s driveway bearing devastating news of the death of a teen-age son or daughter in a traffic accident.

"For me, it is something that I can never prepare for," Lovick said Tuesday. "It is probably the most heart-wrenching thing I have had to do in my life."

That’s why Lovick, a Democratic state legislator from Mill Creek, said he jumped at the chance last year to help push a new law designed to put the brakes on teen wrecks. Washington in July joined 33 other states in restricting how and when new drivers under 18 may operate motor vehicles.

So far, more than 1,100 of the new intermediate driver’s licenses have been issued to teens in Snohomish County, out of about 14,000 statewide, said Mark Varadian, a spokesman for the state Department of Licensing.

The new licenses ban late-night driving by 16- and 17-year-olds, and restrict young drivers from giving rides to most teen-age passengers, including an outright ban during the first six months.

It is too soon to tell what impact the new licenses will have, although states that have enacted similar restrictions report sharp drops in teen car crashes, Varadian said.

The new restrictions are designed to give young motorists "a little more time to learn the art of driving," Varadian said. "No matter how many hours you have in driver’s ed, it is sure different when you are out on the road."

New figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show 16-year-old boys remain the most risky drivers on the road, with 16-year-old girls trailing not far behind.

For every 1,000 licensed 16-year-old girls, 175 got in car accidents in 2000, according to federal accident data. That’s up 9 percent from 1990, when 160 girls crashed per 1,000 drivers.

Accidents for 16-year-old boys decreased slightly during the same period, from 216 to 210 per 1,000 drivers.

Susan Ferguson, senior vice president of research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said Monday that boys are crashing less because of safer vehicle designs and less drunken driving.

"While women would have experienced those improvements as well, they are crashing more because they are driving more miles,” she said.

Traffic accidents were the leading cause of death for drivers 16 to 19 years old in 2000, occurring at a rate four times that of motorists 25 through 69 years old, federal officials say.

Tracy McMillan, Snohomish County DUI Task Force coordinator, has no difficulty matching local names and faces to those statistics. Most of the deadly driving by young people occurs when alcohol is mixed with motor vehicle use.

"Intermediate driver licensing is going to help," she said, but it is only one piece of the puzzle.

The Snohomish County medical examiner reports that since 1995, 47 people under age 20 died in motor vehicle accidents here. Autopsies turned up alcohol in roughly one third of those victims. In 2001, there were six fatalities involving young people, evenly split between males and females. Alcohol was present in half the cases.

McMillan said the connection between booze and bad driving can’t be overstated and is a problem that cuts across generations.

In 1999, the county logged 48 traffic fatalities, more than half of which were alcohol-related, she said. In 2000, alcohol was a factor in 43 percent of traffic fatalities statewide, she said.

"We still have a huge problem, and Snohomish County is no different from the rest of Washington," McMillan said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

You can call Herald Writer Scott North at 425-339-3431

or send e-mail to north@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.