This is in response to "Review of State's Gradu-ated Driver License Program is Needed" (Tri-Town News, Letters to the Editor, Jan. 25, 2007). New Jersey signed into law the Graduated Driver's License (GDL) program which I initiated through Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean) after the death of my daughter in 1993.

It took six long years for the bill to pass. In order for the GDL to work, everyone must work together - parents, teens and law enforcement.

Experience is the key to keeping our teens from becoming fatalities. Teenagers, by definition, are young and they also feel invincible and think an hour is a long time. As new drivers, their inexperience and other qualities work against them.

Remember back to when you were a new driver and think of all the things that have changed since then. The amount of vehicles and their sophistication and power have changed dramatically over the years.

In addition, our fast-paced society has filled our roads with impatient and aggressive drivers. The skills necessary to drive safely on today's roads require practice, attention to detail, patience, and more practice. New drivers of any age, but especially teenagers, need all the guidance and support necessary to develop their safe-driving skills and habits.

School districts disbanded behind-the-wheel lessons when teens needed them most. Young drivers not only need time to gain experience behind the wheel, but also should be required to attend defensive driving classes. This should not be seen or presented as punishment, but as a legitimate tool to teach new drivers very real life-saving skills.

As a parent who lost a child because of her inexperience as a new driver, I just wanted to save teens from becoming a statistic and leaving their families to grieve. Grieving a child's loss is forever ... never ending. We celebrate our daughter's birthday and the anniversary of her death each year with broken hearts. Please don't become a member of the grieving parents club. Do everything you can to positively enforce safe driving with your teen.

Parents, it is up to you first to help your teen gain the behind-the-wheel experience. Repetition is the way we learn. Teens must also commit to driving safely, respecting authority and obeying traffic laws. Our police officers must enforce the laws. The consequences for not taking these actions are high and unforgiving.

Barbara and Clark Ferry

Stuart, Fla.

(formerly of Jackson)