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On the surface, it's pretty understandable.

Unveiled Tuesday in downtown Toronto, new provincial legislation is being introduced that would add restrictions on younger drivers in the province. Those restrictions include a zero blood-alcohol limit for drivers 21 and under; the extension, by one year, of the time it takes to get a full licence and the restricting of teenage drivers from carrying more than one passenger age 19 and under during their first year under the driving program.

What's at the heart of legislation that targets a specific age group? Statistics that, by and large, show younger drivers are involved in a disproportionate percentage of collisions.

The intent seems honourable enough. It's not so much the fact that the rules are being strengthened, however, that poses the problem; it's where they're being made more restrictive.

For example, it's prudent to question the sheer practicality of some of the measures - namely the restriction on passengers - as Ontario PC leader John Tory did in his comments following the announcement. It's an unnecessarily punitive move - especially in an age where carpooling is encouraged. By the logic employed under the legislation, if five 17-year-olds want to go to a movie, it would need to be in three cars - driven by three rookie drivers - for the group to legally meet the obligation.

Now, people in communities like Toronto, where the populace is not solely reliant on the automobile, are generally able to avail themselves of public transportation and the impact may not be felt as greatly. Those in more suburban and remote areas obviously don't and won't have that luxury.

Also, in the interests of prevention - as opposed to consequences - how about a review of the testing and training procedures themselves that serve to grant licences in the first place? Surely, there are prudent opportunities that can be more fully explored. Having better trained drivers on the road would strengthen, in a positive fashion, some of the aforementioned proposals.

That the issue of driver safety is being talked about is a positive. As the population grows, so will the number of drivers and cars on the road. The fact is, however, an impaired driver, at any age, should be a concern. A distracted driver, at any age, should be a concern.

The legislation is a reaffirmation that driving is a serious responsibility and is absolutely a privilege that must be earned - that's never a bad thing. With that acknowledgement, however, comes the need to understand the practicalities involved - the questions that have arisen as a result of the new legislation mean a closer look is surely warranted.