Getting Ready: Your State Driving Test Chapter 2 Getting Ready: Your State Driving Test

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) GDL- A driver training program based on the idea that a teen with a new driver’s license needs time and guidance to gain the necessary driving experience and skills in reduced-risk settings. GDL has 3 stages.

GDL- Stage # 1 The Learner’s Permit Nighttime driving restrictions — Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (local curfews may differ). • Permit must be held for a minimum of nine months. • Must practice driving a minimum of 50 hours, including 10 hours at night, supervised by a parent or adult age 21 or older with a valid driver’s license. • Must not acquire any driving or underage alcohol convictions or court supervisions during the nine-month permit phase. • Number of passengers limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat. • All occupants must wear safety belts. • Wireless/cellphone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency to contact a law enforcement agency, health-care provider or emergency services agency. • Texting while driving is prohibited.

GDL-Stage #2 Initial Licensing Phase — Drivers Ages 16-17 Nighttime driving restrictions — Sun.-Thurs., 10 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (local curfews may differ). • Must maintain a conviction-free driving record for six months prior to turning 18. A traffic conviction during the Initial Licensing Phase may extend restrictions beyond age 18. • All occupants must wear safety belts. • For the first 12 months of licensing, or until the driver turns 18, whichever occurs first, the number of passengers is limited to one person under age 20, unless the passenger(s) is a sibling, stepsibling, child or stepchild of the driver. After this period, the number of passengers is limited to one in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat. • Wireless/cellphone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency to contact a law enforcement agency, health-care provider or emergency services agency. • Texting while driving is prohibited.

GDL- Stage #3 Full Licensing Phase — Drivers Ages 18-20 No age-related restrictions apply except in cases where a driver fails to move from the Initial Licensing Phase to the Full Licensing Phase. • Wireless/cellphone use while driving is prohibited for drivers under age 19, except in the case of an emergency to contact a law enforcement agency, health-care provider or emergency services agency. • Texting while driving is prohibited.

How graduated licensing can help Crashes are the leading cause of death among American teens, accounting for nearly a third of all deaths of 16-19 year-olds. Graduated licensing helps to reduce this toll by slowly introducing teens to more complex driving tasks as they mature and gain skills. Driving privileges are phased in to restrict beginners' initial experience behind the wheel to lower risk situations. The restrictions gradually are lifted, so teens are more experienced and mature when they get their full, unrestricted licenses. Graduated licensing laws have reduced teenagers' crash rates in the United States, Canada and New Zealand. All U.S. states have such laws, but they aren't all strong.

The toughest graduated licensing provisions in the U. S The toughest graduated licensing provisions in the U.S. are a minimum permit age of 16, at least 65 hours of supervised practice driving during the learner's stage, a minimum intermediate license age of 17, and during the intermediate stage, a night driving restriction starting at 8 p.m. and a ban on driving with other teens in the vehicle. No state currently has all of them. An online calculator developed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows the effects for every state and the District of Columbia of strengthening or weakening the five key provisions: permit age, practice driving hours, license age, and night driving and passenger restrictions Being a beginning driver has special risks. During their first months of licensure, teens have a particularly high risk of crashing. Driving at night and driving with other teens in the car are especially risky. That's why graduated licensing systems restrict these activities until teen drivers have more experience on the road.

Illinois- Stage #1 To get a learners license you must: Have a minimum age of 15 years old

Before getting a license or restricted license you must: Have a mandatory holding period of Have a minimum supervised driving time of Have a minimum age of 9 Months 50 hours, 10 of which must be at night 16

Restrictions during intermediate or restricted license stage: Nighttime restrictions Passenger restrictions (family members excepted unless otherwise noted) -Starts 10 p.m. Sun.-Thur., 11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., ends 6 a.m.; duration: until age 18 -No more than 1 passenger younger than 20; duration: first 12 months or until age 18

Minimum age at which restrictions may be lifted: Nighttime restrictions Passenger restrictions 18 years old 17 years old