It took two years for Gabriel Emiliano to get into Belvidere High School's driver's ed. program.

"I was like it's about time."

The high school senior got in through a lottery system. Since Emiliano applied, Illinois driving laws changed. New drivers are now restricted to one passenger under 20 and banned from using a cell phone while driving. They must also hold a learner's permit longer and spend more time practicing on the road.

"A lot of changes are for the better though, because waiting nine months and having 50 hours with your parents has really been a great thing and saved a lot of lives," says Driver's Ed. Instructor Mike Hearn.

The Illinois Department of Transportation says since these laws went into effect, teen driving deaths dropped by more than 50-percent. This earned recognition from the Roadway Safety Foundation and Federal Highway Administration.

To say teen driving deaths are down, isn't the whole story. The economy has fewer of them behind the wheel. Just take a look at the high school's half-empty parking lot.

"It just seems there's not as many students percentage wise that are driving and have a car as there used to so for whatever reasons, we just don't have as many teenage drivers on the roads anymore," says Hearn.

Hearn says fewer teens have jobs. And fewer of their families can afford getting them licenses. Making students like Emiliano really feel as though they've won the lottery.

Belvidere's driver's ed. program can take about 100 students a year. Which is less than half of the number of student's who apply. So most students like Emiliano wind up waiting between one-and-two years before getting into the program.