GRADUATED DRIVERS LICENSING SYSTEM FOR TEENS
(the California law is below)

Since teen drivers account for the #1 risk group among all drivers, a "GRADUATED DRIVERS LICENSE" is being proposed in this article by Richard Stryker. PARENTS should read this carefully!!

Mr. Traffic's comments about this are at the bottom of the page.

Momentum continues to build for more states to adopt graduated driver licensing systems. Recent releases from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) clearly indicate that their programs will emphasize graduated licensing as a measure to improve traffic safety for under 21 year old drivers.

NHTSA encourages states to implement a graduated driver licensing system to ease young drivers into the driving environment through more controlled exposure to progressively more difficult driving experiences or driver licensing stages, prior to full licensure. Authorities attribute the problems of young drivers to inexperience and inadequate driving skills, excessive operations during high risk hours - especially nighttime, risk-taking, poor judgment, and poor decision making. It is also believed that considerable experience is required, after initial licensing, before a young driver achieves dependable driving know-how, skill and judgment.

To address these problems, NHTSA and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) developed an entry-level driver licensing system. It consists of three distinct stages, named by the type of license possessed at each stage: learner's permit, intermediate (provisional) license, and full license. Young drivers are required to demonstrate responsible driving behavior in each stage of licensing before advancing to the next.

The three stages of graduated licensing systems include specific components and restrictions to introduce driving privileges gradually to beginning drivers. Young drivers are required to demonstrate responsible driving behavior in each stage of licensing before advancing to the next stage.

STAGE 1: LEARNER'S PERMIT

* Minimum age for a permit is 15 1/2

* Pass vision and knowledge tests, including rules of the road and signs and signals

* Licensed adult (at least 21) required in the vehicle at all times

* All occupants must wear safety belts

* Zero alcohol while driving (usually 0.02 BAC)

* Permit is distinctive from other licenses

* Must remain crash and conviction free for six months to move to the next stage

STAGE 2: INTERMEDIATE (PROVISIONAL)

* Minimum age for an intermediate license is age 16

* Pass a behind-the-wheel, on-road test

* All occupants must wear safety belts

* Zero alcohol while driving (usually 0.02 BAC)

* A licensed adult required in the vehicle during late night hours

* Driver improvement actions are initiated at lower point level than for regular drivers

* Provisional license is distinctive from a regular license

* Must remain crash and conviction free for 12 consecutive months to move to the next stage

STAGE 3: FULL LICENSURE

* Minimum age for a full license is 18

Where does drive education fit in to graduated licensing? NTHSA's plan includes recommendations that driver education be an integral part of the graduated licensing process. The National Association of Independent Insurers, GRADUATED DRIVER LICENSING MODEL BILL includes recommendations for the satisfactory completion of a driver education course, including the satisfactory completion of six hours of "hands-on" instruction. But the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in their information on graduated licensing, states: "high school driver education is not the answer."

According to the 1994 Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS), Florida was ranked 3rd in 1993 for teenage motor vehicle deaths with 262. A total of 5,408 teenagers were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 1993. Drivers 16 and 17 years of age have more than twice the average number of crashes in their first year of driving and have four times as many crashes per mile driven as do experienced adult drivers. These are compelling reasons for a graduated licensing program.

In recent years graduated and provisional licensing laws have been enacted in several states and the trend is continuing. To be effective, graduated licensing must be coordinated with driver education. Graduated licensing, in combination with improved driver education, holds promise as a way to provide positive incentives for new drivers to drive safely.

Here is the new California law which went into effect 7/1/98:

Provisional Licensing Changes

Instruction Permit Requirements

The first step in obtaining a provisional license is to obtain an instruction permit. To obtain a provisional instruction permit you must:

• Be at least 15, but under 18 years of age.
• Fill out the DMV application form (DL 44).
• Obtain your parents' or guardians' signatures on the application form.
• Present an acceptable birth date/legal presence document.
• Present the DMV Form DL 356 showing you have completed driver education or present DMV Form DL 391 or OL 239 showing you are enrolled in driver education and driver training during the same semester.
• To drive mopeds or motorcycles, you must be at least 15¹/2 and bring proof you have finished driver training (DL 356 or OL 238).
• If you are at least 17¹/2, you may obtain a permit without driver education or driver training.
• Provide your social security number.
• Pay the required $12 application fee.
• Pass an eye exam.
• Pass a law test.
 
• If you fail the law test, you must wait one week before taking it again.

Instruction Permit Restrictions

You may use your provisional instruction permit to practice with a parent, guardian, licensed driver 25 years of age or older, or a licensed or certified driving instructor. He or she must sit closely enough to you to take control of the vehicle at any time. A provisional instruction permit does not let you drive alonenot even to a DMV office to take a driving test.

If you have an instruction permit that allows you to drive mopeds or motorcycles (or any 2-wheel vehicle), you cannot carry passengers, you must ride during daylight only, and you cannot ride on any freeway.

License Requirements

To obtain a provisional license you must:

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Have held the instruction permit for at least 6 months (for applications started on July 1, 1998, or later).
• Present a DMV form DL 356 or OL 238 showing you have finished both driver education and driver training.
• Have your parent's or guardian's signature on your instruction permit verifying that you have completed 50 hours of driving practice, of which 10 hours must have been at night (refer to the Parent-Teen Training Aid Handbook which is available at any DMV office).
• Pass the behind-the-wheel driving test.
• If you fail, you must wait two weeks before you can take the driving test again.
• Give your thumb print.
• Have your picture taken.

Provisional licensees issued a license on or after July 1, 1998, may not drive unaccompanied between the hours of 12:00 midnight to 5:00 A.M. for the first year from the date the license is issued. (Exceptions)

First six months restrictions

• When driving between 12 midnight and 5 A.M.
• When transporting passengers under 20 years of age at any time.

Second six months restrictions

• When driving between 12 midnight and 5 A.M.

NOTE: Local laws may further restrict or prohibit driving during specified hours.

Exceptions to Restrictions

The exceptions listed below are granted when reasonable transportation is not available and it is necessary for the minor to drive. The minor must carry a note signed by the appropriate person and the note must explain why the minor must drive and include the date when the necessity will end.

• Medical necessity

The note must be signed by your physician and the note must contain a diagnosis and probable date when recovery will end the need for the minor to drive.
• School or school-authorized activities

The note must be signed by your school principal, dean, or his or her designee and the note must include a reason for the school or school-authorized activity and the date when the activity will end.
• Employment necessity

The note must be signed by your employer and it must verify employment and the date employment will end.
• Immediate need of family member

The note must be signed by your parent or legal guardian and it must include the reason and date the necessity will end.
• Emancipated minor

No documentation is needed for this exemption. However, the minor must have already declared himself or herself emancipated by completing a DMV form and by providing Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR 1P) in lieu of the guarantor's signatures when he or she applied for the instruction permit.

There HAS been an overall decline in the number of fatalities and injury crashes caused by teens!
AGE OF DRIVER               1998          1999           %CHANGE
15                                            177            145                -18.1%
16                                            1940           1706             -12.1%
17                                            2659            2502            -8.9%

Mr. Traffic believes that the GRADUATED DRIVERS LICENSE is a WONDERFUL thing and should be implemented in every American state, and every country in the world. America is NOT unique in it's teen crash and fatality rates. Canada was the last country that went to this system VERY successfully. Driving is mainly three things:

JUDGMENT: This is something teenagers have a huge lack of; they believe they are invulnerable and will live forever.

EXPERIENCE : Also lacking in a teen just be sheer numbers of hours behind the wheel.

ATTITUDE: Teens tend to be VERY reckless due to the lack of the above.

Parents, I believe that you HAVE to be tough and make your teenager EARN the privilege to drive. Just because the OTHER kids parents give them cars and they want to be like them, don't be suckered into helping kill your kid and they kill others. Make them demonstrate the desire to learn the rules of the road, their willingness to follow them, and that they have the maturity to operate a lethal weapon......something you parents could be BETTER ROLE MODELS in doing yourselves!!!!!
 

I would like to suggest a book that deals with these parental problems and the teen driver VERY effectively…..

This inexpensive book is available at AMAZON.COM, and will help both parents and teens start off their driving career on the right foot.

FOR LOS ANGELES PARENTS.....THE L.A. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT  HAS A TELEPHONE NUMBER YOU CAN CALL TO REPORT A RECKLESS TEEN   1-877-310-STOP...THE SHERIFF'S TEEN TRAFFIC OFFENDER PROGRAM (S.T.T.O.P.)
Mr. Traffic