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Teen Driver Safety Law Marks First Anniversary

1 July 1999

Teen Driver Safety Law Marks First Anniversary; Young Drivers Get Experience First, License Second

    LOS ANGELES--June 30, 1999--California's Graduated Driver License (GDL) system marks its first anniversary tomorrow (July 1).
    It has dramatically changed the way teenagers begin to drive, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California, which co-sponsored the law.
    "Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers," said Arline Dillman, Ph.D., traffic safety manager for the Auto Club. "For the past year due to GDL, teenagers have had to spend more time behind the wheel before becoming fully licensed. The Auto Club believes this will help give them better driving skills so they don't become crash victims."
    Noting that statistics for GDL will not be available for another year, Dillman said that the system has added significant new requirements to teen driving laws. Teens between the ages of 16 and 18 now must: 

-- Complete 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10
   hours at night while holding an instruction permit. A
   parent or guardian must certify in writing that these
   hours have been completed.

-- Not carry passengers under the age of 20 unless a
   licensed driver aged 25 or older is present for the
   first six months of a provisional license (obtained
   after holding an instruction permit for six months).

-- Not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. for the first 12 months of 
   a provisional license.


    To date, 34 states now have Graduated Driver License laws and legislation is pending in six others, according to Dillman. Five states have GDL laws that take effect July 1, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Delaware and Maryland. A sixth state, North Dakota, has a GDL law that takes effect August 1. The national AAA goal is to have a GDL system in all 50 states.
    The Auto Club and the California State Automobile Association in northern California co-sponsored the GDL legislation because 18,000 California teen drivers and an additional 18,000 teen passengers are killed or injured in vehicle crashes each year. While teens from the age of 15 through 19 make up only four percent of licensed drivers, according to an Auto Club study, they are the drivers in nine percent of fatal crashes and 10 percent of injury crashes. Less than four percent of the miles driven by 16 and 17-year-olds occur between midnight and 5 a.m., but 13 percent of their fatal crashes occur during those hours.
    The Auto Club provides a free brochure, "Teen Drivers: A Guide to California's New Graduated Driver License," at its district offices throughout Southern California and on its Web site at www.aaa-calif.com/members/corpinfo/teens.html. The brochure, which is also available in Spanish, explains California's GDL requirements, offers practice driving tips and includes a tear-out supervised driving log.
    GDL is part of a larger effort by the two California Auto Clubs and national AAA called "Licensed to Learn: A Safety Program for New Drivers." The effort includes a video called "Teaching Your Teens to Drive" and a new driver education program to be unveiled next year.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, insurance services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs and legislative advocacy. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.