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What are the laws for younger drivers?

YOUNG DRIVER LAWS

Young drivers account for a disproportionate number of motor vehicle crashes. States are increasingly adopting laws to help lower the crash rate. One approach has been to lower blood alcohol content (BAC) limits so those young drivers who drink even small amounts of alcohol will be penalized. Another has been to grant young drivers the privilege of a drivers license only after a more rigorous learning period than in the past. This has been implemented by requiring young drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 to apply for a graduated drivers license (GDL) to help them improve their driving skills and habits before receiving full driving privileges.

Graduated licensing as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration consists of three stages. Some of the requirements and recommendations included in Stage 1 (Learner’s Permit) are a vision test, a road knowledge test, driving accompanied by a licensed adult, safety-belt use by all vehicle occupants, a zero BAC level, and six months with no crashes or convictions for traffic violations. Stage 2 (Intermediate License) includes the completion of Stage 1, a behind-the-wheel road test, advanced driver education training, driving accompanied by a licensed adult at night, and 12 consecutive months with no crashes or convictions for traffic offenses before reaching Stage 3 (Full License).

About three dozen jurisdictions have three-stage graduated licensing systems. A handful of other states have enacted some components of graduated licensing.
 

  • In Florida, where the first graduated driver license (GDL) law was enacted in 1996, teen driver deaths had fallen 21 percent by mid-2000.
  • In South Carolina, the percentage of teenagers involved in crashes fell from 14.5 percent in 1998 to 13.0 percent in 1999. South Carolina's GDL law went into effect in 1998.
  • Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20- year olds.
  • Among licensed drivers, young people between the ages of 15 and 20 years old have the highest rate of fatal crashes relative to other age groups, including the elderly.

STATE YOUNG DRIVER LAWS (1)


 


Graduated Licensing (2)


State


Learners permit required for a minimum period


Intermediate or provisional license required


Restrictions on night driving (3)


Passenger restrictions (4)


Zero or near-zero BAC laws for under-21 drivers (5)

Alabama

6 months

X

X

X

0.02

Alaska

6 months

 

 

 

0

Arizona

5 months

 

 

 

0

Arkansas

6 months

X

 

 

0.02

California

6 months

X

X

X

0.01

Colorado

6 months

X

X

 

0.02

Connecticut

6 months (6)

X

 

X

0.02

Delaware

6 months

X

X

X

0.02

Dist. of Columbia

6 months

X

X

X

0

Florida

12 months

X

X

 

0.02

Georgia

12 months

X

X

X

0.02

Hawaii

3 months

 

 

 

0.02

Idaho

4 months

X

X

 

0.02

Illinois

3 months

X

X

 

0

Indiana

2 months

X

X

X

0.02

Iowa

6 months

X

X

 

0.02

Kansas

6 months

 

 

 

0.02

Kentucky

6 months

 

 

 

0.02

Louisiana

3 months

X

X

 

0.02

Maine

6 months

X (7)

X

X

0

Maryland

4 months

X

X

 

0.02

Massachusetts

6 months

X

X

X

0.02

Michigan

6 months

X

X

 

0

Minnesota

6 months

 

 

 

0

Mississippi

6 months

X

X

 

0.02

Missouri

6 months

X

X

 

0.02

Montana

 

 

 

 

0.02

Nebraska

 

X

X

 

0.02

Nevada

90 days (9)

X

 

X

0.02

New Hampshire

3 months (10)

X

X

X

0.02

New Jersey

6 months

X (7)

X

X

0.01

New Mexico

6 months

X

X

X

0.02

New York

6 months (11)

X

X

X

0.02

North Carolina

12 months

X

X (12)

X

0

North Dakota

6 months

 

 

 

0.02

Ohio

6 months

X

X

 

0.02

Oklahoma

 

 

 

 

0

Oregon

6 months

X

X

X

0

Pennsylvania

6 months

X

X

 

0.02

Rhode Island

6 months

X

X

 

0.02

South Carolina

6 months

X

X

X

0.02

South Dakota

6 months (6)

X

X

 

0.02

Tennessee

6 months

X

X

X

0.02

Texas

6 months

X

X

X

0

Utah

 

X

X

X

0

Vermont 

12 months

X

 

X

0.02 (8)

Virginia

9 months

X

X

X

0.02

Washington

6 months

X

X

X

0.02

West Virginia

6 months

X

X

X

0.02

Wisconsin

6 months

X

X

X

0.00 (13)

Wyoming

10 days

 

 

 

0.02

(1)   Designed to aid young novice drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 gain driving experience.  To date they apply only to drivers under the age of 18 except for lower BAC laws.

(2)   Graduated licensing as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:  Stage 1:  Learners' permit required.  Other recommended components are that the driver pass vision and knowledge tests; must drive with a licensed adult age 21 or older; all occupants must wear seat belts; blood alcohol content (BAC) set at zero or near zero (see footnote 5); driver must be traffic-offense and alcohol-offense free to move up to the next stage; permit's appearance is distinctive from other licenses.  Stage 2 (Intermediate or Provisional): Driver must complete stage 1; must pass a road test; all occupants must wear seat belts; BAC set at zero or near zero; licensed adult required in the vehicle during late night hours; driver must be traffic-offense and alcohol-offense free for 12 months to obtain a regular license.  Stage 3: Full license.

(3)   Vary by state with regard to age of driver, night hours that driving is restricted, and who must accompany driver during night hours.  Exceptions may be made for work, school activities or emergencies.

(4)   Limits the number of passengers a young driver may have in the vehicle to eliminate distractions.

(5)   Specifies that a driver under age 21 can be convicted of drunk driving if found driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the level shown.  Conventional BACs for older drivers are generally between 0.08 and 0.10.

(6)   Required for a shorter period if driver has taken a drivers education course.

(7)   Driver may not operate a cell phone in the learner or intermediate stages.

(8)   Applies to drivers age 18 and under.


(9)   If license applicant is 16 then mandatory holding period in learner stage is 60 days, if 17 then mandatory holding period in learner stage is 30 days.  License applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education if available in the public school or, if unavailable, must complete 50 hours of supervised driving in addition to that required in the learner stage.


(10) 
New Hampshire does not issue learner’s permits.  The minimum holding period refers to the intermediate license for 16-and 17-year-olds for the first 3 months only.


(11)  Minimum holding period applies to the limited DJ license for permit holders who pass a road test and certify 20 or more hours of practice; with some restrictions.


(12)  For the first six months after a learner’s permit is issued.  Thereafter there are no restrictions.


(13)  Applies to drivers age 19 and under.

 

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. Department of Transportation), National Conference of State Legislatures, Insurance Information Institute.

Source: Insurance Information Institute, Inc. www.iii.org

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