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Graduated Driver Licensing Laws

Written By Rebecca White-Glanders

Due to inexperience and distraction, teen drivers experience more fatal auto accidents than any other age group. In fact, motor vehicle accidents cause 44 percent of all teenage mortality, making them the leading cause of death for teenagers. Concerned parents, legislators and state officials have worked to find ways in which we can improve young drivers' safety. In an effort to give young people a safer start as new drivers, many states have instituted graduated driver licensing laws.

The system of graduated licensing is used to start new drivers off with limited driving privileges and gradually increase them as the driver gets older, gains experience and proves their ability to drive safely. Graduated licensing laws, as with all driving laws, are state mandated and vary according to where you live.

The U.S. Department Of Transportation's National Highway & Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has strongly encouraged states to implement NHTSA's proposed three-tiered graduated driver licensing system. So far, 13 states have adopted a three-tiered graduated licensing system with different components of the NHTSA proposal: California, New York, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Maryland, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Georgia. In addition, New Jersey, Illinois, Oregon and Vermont have adopted two-tiered systems which include multiple components.

So, what do these tiered licensing regulations mean for today's new drivers? The three-tiers which the NHTSA recommends are a learner's permit, intermediate license and full license. The learner's permit is issued at the individual state's minimum age and comes with several restrictions as to how, where and when teens can drive. Generally, a licensed driver 21 years or older must be in the car at all times, every passenger must be wearing their seat belt and the holder must remain crash and conviction free for at least six months before they can obtain an intermediate license.

The intermediate license loosens some of these restrictions, but also adds some new ones. The driver doesn't need to have a licensed adult in the car at all times, but is still required to have a licensed adult in the car during late night hours. The driver must usually pass an additional, on-road driving test to obtain the intermediate license. The intermediate license must be held until the driver has reached the minimum age for a full license and has been accident and conviction free for at least 12 months.

The full license is issued once these conditions have been met. Although the full license is free from most of the restrictions imposed on the other two tiers, the new fully-licensed driver must remain crash and conviction free for twelve months to keep their newly licensed status. The above conditions are only the NHTSA recommendations - check with your state for the tiers and requirements which apply to you.

After implementing the two- or three-tiered licensing system, several of these states reported reductions in motor vehicle accidents involving teenagers. California had a 5 percent reduction in motor vehicle crashes for drivers aged 15 through 17, and Maryland reported a 5 percent reduction in crashes for drivers 16 and 17. Oregon had an even greater improvement after implementation of the tiered licensing system, with a 16 percent reduction in crashes involving male drivers who were 16 and 17. Clearly, the states who have followed the NHTSA's recommendations have seen a measurable relationship between graduated licensing and lower vehicle-related teen mortality.

While the graduated licensing systems do not solve all problems related to teen driving, they are one highly praised step towards protecting new drivers and those who share the road with them. New drivers are bound to make mistakes during the learning process, but the graduated licensing system gives them a chance to learn in safer environments and emerge competent, fully licensed adults.

The Facts: Graduated Licensing, obtained June 20, 2008 from:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/outreach/safesobr/13qp/facts/factgrad.html

Graduated Driver's Licenses, obtained June 20, 2008 from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduated_driver's_licenses

Youth Traffic Safety Statistics, obtained June 19, 2008 from:
http://www.teendrivingfoundation.org/statistics.php

Q & As: Teenagers - Graduated Driver Licensing, obtained June 20, 2008 from:
http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/gdl.html

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