OKLAHOMA CITY — A bill to allow teenagers as young as 14 to get driving permits for work and home will go into effect Nov. 1, its author said, after the measure was endorsed by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
House Bill 1962 will make 14-year-olds who live or work on a family farm eligible for a driving permit to go from school, home or work, its author, Rep. Carl Newton (R-Cherokee) said.
Newton said the measure helps meet the needs of state farmers.
“Those who run family farms work from dawn to dusk to raise food and other crops to provide for families across the nation,” Newton wrote in a media statement. “Allowing these responsible teens to be a more effective part in meeting the needs on the farm by using their driving skills in work around the farm or driving to school will be a major benefit for family farms. I’ve already heard from a number of constituents that this will help them tremendously, and I’m very pleased to be able to offer them this added benefit.”
Newton said Kansas has had similar legislation in place for more than 60 years.
Kansas laws do permit teens as young as 14 to operate a motor vehicle, provided a licensed person who is at least 21 years old is in the front seat at all times. Kansas also offers restricted licenses for 15-year-olds, which allows the teenager to drive to and from school or work without a licensed driver.
Both special permits prohibit the use of wireless devices while operating a vehicle.
Still, the exceptions come at a cost.
According to the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Traffic Safety Office, motor vehicle accidents remain the number one killer of Kansas teenagers.
“In 2008, 51 people were killed and more than 5,400 people were injured as a result of teen crashes on Kansas roads. Per mile driven, teenagers are four times more likely than older drivers to crash,” a teen driver fact sheet from the agency said.
In addition, teenager account for more than 28% of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries – about $26 billion in 2008.
Newton said the bill requires responsibility on the part of the teen and requires them to meet all the same driving requirements as other licensed drivers. He said the bill also specifies restrictions for teens who are operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a farm permit.
State Sen. Darcy Jech (R-Kingfisher) authored the measure in the Oklahoma Senate. He said teenagers who are raised and work on a family farm are well versed in agricultural practices and readying to take on larger roles.
“The farm permits and licenses available under House Bill 1962 will aid these teens in their work on their own farms and ranches, as well as make it easier for them to work at other local operations,” he said. “I’d like to extend my appreciation to Representative Newton for his work on this legislation, as well as Governor Stitt supporting our state’s young agriculturists and entrepreneurs by signing it into law.”
Records from the U.S. Census Bureau show that in about 15% of Oklahoma’s population is under the age of 18. In 2019, Census records show that 53,350 state residents were age 14.