Effective Parenting for Teens

Sometimes it's just easier to say, "It's the law!"

GDL State Laws

Nearly all states have some components of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law in place to help protect teens from serious accidents during the first several months of independent driving. Because a teenager is more than 20 times more likely to be in a crash while moving from supervised driving to driving alone, GDL laws are designed to lessen the danger during that period.

Evidence indicates GDL laws work to protect teen drivers if parents actively enforce the restrictions. GDL limits young drivers' exposure to high-risk situations and requires more hours of supervised practice before teens can go out on the road alone.

Your child is most safe during the learning-to-drive phase and least safe during the first few months of independent driving. That's why it's so important to help your child receive a minimum 50 or more hours of supervised driving practice with you or a trusted adult before going out on the road alone.

GDL Requirements

Although most states do place limits on teen drivers, most laws are not ideal. If you live in a state with incomplete GDL laws, you might consider family or community rules that include all recommended GDL restrictions. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, an ideal GDL law includes the following provisions:

• Long learner and restricted license periods
  • Minimum age for learner's permit 16 years 
  • Learner’s stage lasts at least 6 months
  • Intermediate stage lasts to age 18
• Increased and varied supervised driving
  • Minimum 50 hours
• Passenger restrictions to age 18
  • No passengers younger than age 18 or no more than one peer passenger, without adult supervision
• Nighttime restrictions to age 18
  • Starting at 9 or 10 p.m. without adult supervision
• Primary seat belt enforcement in all seating positions
  • To at least age 18

It is also important to know your state laws on speeding, intoxicated driving, cell phone use and texting while driving.