As the new session of the Kentucky State Legislature began on Tuesday, Jan. 7 of this year, over 300 bills have been introduced. One bill, officially titled House Bill 15, aims to lower the age to get a driver’s permit in the Commonwealth from 16 to 15. The bill aims to lower the age to get a full license as well, from 17 to 16 and a half.
The bill was introduced by House Floor Majority Leader Steven Rudy (R-Paducah). In a statement, Rudy stated, “We’re clearly an outlier on this with this high of a threshold to get a permit.” The representative followed by saying “If parents don’t want their kids to get their permits, we’re not mandating that they have to, we’re just saying they can.”
Rudy introduced the bill on Jan. 8 and said the bill is something “soon-to-be drivers are asking for.” “A lot of my daughter’s friends have said, ‘Why is Kentucky an outlier? Why? Why are we the only state around that has it where kids can’t get their permit till they’re 15?,’” Rudy later stated. “I understand more kids on the road are scary for some people, but I would like to point out that there’s no statistical evidence that there are higher percentages of out-of-accidents with our youth.”
Rudy’s “outlier” comments are most likely referencing the states that border the Commonwealth, with states like Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee and West Virginia already allowing residents of their states to get a permit at 15. Ohio and Virginia, the other two states to border Kentucky, have the age to get a driver’s permit at 15 years and six months.
The bill has also gained bipartisan support in the chamber, with newly elected Rep. Erika Hancock (D-Frankfort) voicing her support of the legislation. “I believe it’s more about experience than it is about age… It frees up some burden for families who have to take off work to take kids to after-school activities.” Hancock followed by saying, “I know I had to do that for myself personally, so I feel like this is definitely something that is good for Kentucky families.”
Despite the bipartisan support in the State House, some have voiced opposition to the bill outside of the chamber. Lori Weaver-Hawkins, a travel executive at AAA Bluegrass, said, “By lowering the age further, you run the risk that a greater proportion of the new drivers on the road might not have reached that level of maturity that they can make those good decisions behind the wheel.” Other than AAA, however, Rudy said that insurance companies aren’t worried about lowering the age to get permits.“I talked with insurance companies and most of them say ‘Hey, this is how we do it in every other state, so it’s no big deal.’”
The bill still has a ways to go before it becomes law. Despite this, Rudy seems optimistic regarding its passage in the State House. The representative told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Jan. 10, “I feel really good about our chances of getting it through the House. Hopefully the Senate will be the same. I’m very optimistic that this will be one of the things we get accomplished this General Assembly.”
If the bill passes both chambers, then it will be sent to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk for signing. Beshear has not commented on whether he will sign or veto the legislation as of the writing of this article.
Photo courtesy of the Courier Journal.
