Graduated driver’s license laws protect teens
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News from the Lake County Health Department
A driver’s license and car keys: every teenagers dream.
While some parents may cringe at the thought of their child driving, many adults celebrate freedom from chauffeuring as their teen gains new found independence.
Parents can help reduce the risk of these young drivers getting into an accident by being familiar with the Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) Law and the reasons for some of its guidelines. Because car crashes are the number one cause of teen deaths in the U.S., the gradual steps of the GDL laws introduce teens to the “art of driving” in phases.
The first step of the GDL in the Learner’s Permit lasts six months and requires 50 hours of supervised driving time, with 10 hours of that to be at night. Because teen drivers are much more likely to be involved in a crash at night, it is important to gain experience judging distances at night and getting use to oncoming headlights.
Each occupant must wear a seat belt, which is also Montana’s law. If a driver is pulled over and is not wearing a seat belt, they can get a ticket and an extension to their GDL restrictions. Supervision must be provided by a licensed parent/guardian in the front seat and lastly, the teen must remain free from all traffic violations and alcohol/drug offenses.
The second step to the GDL is a restricted license for one year. After 50 hours of supervised driving time and no alcohol or drug offenses, teens need time to become familiar with driving without an adult. Certain conditions are especially high risk for teens, including dusk/dark nighttime driving, high speeds, passengers and adverse weather conditions, traffic and road conditions. Conditions for this restricted license are that each occupant must wear a seat belt, and teens may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. because the greatest risk of being involved in a fatal or injury crash is at night. Also, for the first six months teens may drive with only one passenger who is not a family member. For the second six months, teens may drive with up to three passengers who are not family members. The reason for restricting other teen passengers is that teen drivers with more than one teen passenger are twice as likely to be in a crash. Distraction is probably the most likely cause.
The third step is the full privilege driver’s license. Upon successful completion of steps one and two, or reaching age 18, whichever comes first, the youth receives their regular driver’s license.
Overall, the greatest risks for teen drivers are due to inexperience and/or poor judgment, including: less ability to detect hazards, less ability to assess risk, overconfidence and taking risks like speeding, having too many teen passengers which create distractions, cell phone use and/or texting and driving, driving at night, and not wearing a seat belt.
More than 55 percent of teens killed in car crashes were not using their seat belts. While young people often feel they are invincible, no one can overcome the laws of physics. Everything in the car will continue to travel at the speed the car is traveling until stopped by something. Seat belts also keep the driver and passengers inside the vehicle. The driver is responsible for making sure everyone is buckled up. That is Montana law.
If the driver must use a cell phone, he or she should pull over and call or text the person back. Many Montana cities now have laws against cell phone use when driving.
Montana’s GDL aims to decrease teen crash risk by getting parents involved in helping their teens develop safe, responsible driving skills and attitudes. At first, it is with supervised practice and then by avoiding high-risk conditions for at least the first year of driving alone.
Just as in sports and music, competence, skill, judgment and good habits grow through experience. Parents should continue to monitor, ride with their teen and impose consequences on teen driving even after teens have their full privilege driver’s license.
