GRAYSON COUNTY, Tex. ―Texas leads the nation in teen auto fatalities. Now state leaders and concerned citizens are working to prevent these tragic accidents. Rashi Vats has more.

Texas State Representative Larry Phillips and a team of state officials are working on what they call the "Teen Driving Bill," a measure they hope will save lives, and one that originated in Texoma.

The deaths of two teens in auto accidents in 2007 shocked residents of Pottsboro into action.

"Concerned citizens said, ‘Hey, what can we do to change laws or get involved with helping out to make sure our children are safe?" State Representative Larry Phillips says.

Results just back from a study done by the State Transportation Commission show Texas led the nation in teen driving accidents.

Pottsboro Police Chief Brett Arterburn says too many of those crashes happen in his city limits, so the community stepped up to raise awareness of the dangers of teen driving by forming an organization called "Less Tears, More Years" and by proposing the Teen Driving Bill.

"This bill is trying to find ways that we at the state can insure that our teens have the best chance of succeeding as a driver," Phillips says.

"We are going to increase requirements of driving experience before they actually get that license including some night driving. Night driving is one of the most dangerous times for teens to drive."

The proposed bill would also make it tougher for teens to get a driver's license by:

•increasing hours of driving experience
•requiring night driving practice
•tightening requirements for parent teaching.
•school districts would also be required to offer driver education and traffic safety courses each year.

"This is what we've been looking forward to for a couple of years, and a whole group has been working hard to get to this point. It’s a huge step for us and Representative Phillips did a great job in writing the bill and getting it to where it’s currently at," Chief Arterburn said.

Representative Phillips will present the bill to the House when the Texas Legislature reconvenes January 13. He says we should know if the bill passes by April.

On the Web:

Less Tears, More Years