Studies have shown that the more teens there are in a car, the higher the chances of a crash. If parents live in one of those states, the IIHS says they might want to consider setting an earlier cutoff time. But some don’t kick in until after midnight. Most states have a curfew for teen drivers, with the strictest starting at 8 p.m. Restrict Driving At NightĪbout 40 percent of all fatal teen crashes happen at night, according to the IIHS, which is why it’s important to limit how much driving teens do after sunset. You now have the perfect way to earn respect on the road and prove your commitment to driving responsibly without having to deal with friends, cell phones or other major distractions. If your state has a GDL program, or if your parents are implementing one on their own, take advantage of it. GDLs also give parents peace-of-mind that their teen is protected from distractions at a critical time. This is because supervision and lack of distraction allow you to concentrate fully on the road when you are still learning the basics. Graduated license programs help teens learn and develop driving skills while lowering the risk of accident or injury. Systems vary by state so visit for information on GDL’s in your state.
The three phases of GDLs are: a supervised learner’s period an intermediate license, which allows unsupervised driving depending on various situations and a full privileges license. These limits allow teenagers to get enough practice in different driving situations until they’re able to drive on their own without restrictions. Graduated licensing systems include limits on late-night unsupervised driving and the number of teenage passengers in the car-factors that are known to contribute to high teen accident rates. Graduated licensing introduces beginners to the driving experience in a low-risk manner, protecting both new drivers and others. Like any new activity, learning to drive requires practice and gradual pacing. To make the process easier, refer to the handy state-by-state guide to license restrictions the IIHS has put together. “Parents can always take it a step further,” she adds. But they shouldn’t necessarily stop there. Eichelberger says parents should know those rules and enforce them.
Many states have graduated licensing systems, which limit when teens can drive and how many passengers they can have in their car.