Graduated Driving Laws

In recent years, most states have developed Graduated Driving Laws that apply to teenagers who are about to become new drivers. There are many more distractions such as cell phones, laptops, and MP3 players that can affect how teenagers drive. In addition, graduated driving laws allows teenagers to gain driving experience under lower risk conditions. Overall, these new laws were designed to protect the safety of teenagers and also other drivers on the road.

Examples of graduated licensing provisions include:

1. A longer period of time for drivers to have learner’s permits, giving them more time to practice before their driving exam

2. A specific hour requirement of adult supervision during the learner period

3. Restrictions on the late night hours that a newly licensed driver can operate a vehicle

4. Restrictions on the number of teenage passengers allowed for a newly licensed driver

5. Strict, no excuses seat belt laws for teenager.

Parents are encouraged to develop any other specific rules or regulations depending upon the geographic area where their teen will be driving, such as busy freeways, the level of traffic, and the overall sense of responsibility exhibited by the teenage driver.

In Wisconsin, there are many Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws that aim to improve teen driving safety. The time period for a learner’s permit is at least six months and can be nine months for some drivers. The driver must have at least thirty hours of adult supervised practice driving; of those hours, at least ten must be at night. Teenage drivers may not drive between the hours of midnight and 5AM for a certain period of time after receiving their license. Teenage drivers may not transport more than one other passenger, and they are prohibited from using their cell phone for any type of texting (which is the law for all drivers in Wisconsin). Some experts believe that there should be additional rules prohibiting the use of cell phones, even those that are hands free. Distracted driving is one of the major causes of crashes among teenage drivers.

Parents are encouraged to develop any other specific rules or regulations depending upon the geographic area where their teen will be driving, such as busy freeways, the level of traffic, and the overall sense of responsibility exhibited by the teenage driver.