New Jersey high school students help change driving laws

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) -- A group of students from West Orange High School are being applauded for helping to change New Jersey’s driver permit laws. 
 
On Jan. 8, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation requiring all permit holders under age 21 to log at least 50 hours of driving before obtaining a provisional license. Ten of those hours must be at night. The legislation takes effect in 2025. 

Before signing the legislation, New Jersey was one of only three states, including Mississippi and Arkansas, that did not have such a requirement already in place. 
 
“I’m just so glad I could be a part of change,” said Tatiana Garcia, one of the students who testified at the state legislature in Trenton in favor of the legislation. 
 
“It makes you feel more at rest and safer and more prepared for the road,” said Krish Patel, a junior student who also testified. 
 
Garcia and Patel are members of the Nikhil Badlani Foundation’s Youth Advisory Board at West Orange High School. West Orange mom Sangeeta Badlani created the advisory board after her 11-year-old son Nikhil was killed by a driver who ran a stop sign in 2011. 
 
“It’s definitely a testament to the voice of the youth and the difference they can make,” said Badlani of the teen’s testimony. 
 
Bryce Mengden, a West Orange High School senior who is president of the advisory board, said having guaranteed practice can only be a good thing. 
 
“It’s super exciting having something I’ve been working on now for two years be passed, and it’s something that’s going to affect me and everyone I know,” said Mengden.