Young Drivers

Vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death among 16-24 years old. Some common contributors to crashes involving teen drivers in Pennsylvania are driver inexperience, driver distractions, driving too fast for conditions and improper or careless turning.

PennDOT is continuaously looking for ways to enhance the driver’s license issuance process for teens while maintaining a balance between safety and mobility. PA’s Graduated Driver Licensing Law, which took effect in 1999, and was updated in 2011, was a major enhancement to teen driver safety and has proven effective in reducing crashes and fatalities for 16 and 17 year olds.

The Law is as follows:

Learner’s Permit

After successfully completing a physical examination, vision screening and knowledge test, young drivers may begin behind-the-wheel practice. Basic driving skills and safe habits are developed under adult-supervised conditions. Requirements under the law include:

• Six months of learning: A six-month skill-building period to practice and gain experience is required before a young driver may take the road test for a junior license.
• Supervising adult for permit holder must be at least 21: An experienced, licensed driver aged 21 or older must accompany the young driver at all times.
• 65 hours of adult-supervised skill building: A parent or guardian must certify that the young driver’s six months of skill building included at least 65 hours of practical, adult-supervised driving experience. The 65 must include 10 hours of night driving and five hours of driving in poor weather conditions. The night driving and poor weather hours do not apply for a motorcycle learner’s permit; however, the 65 hours of practical driving experience must still be achieved.
• Nighttime driving restriction begins at 11 p.m.: The young driver may not be behind the wheel between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Young drivers may travel for employment and for volunteer or charitable service during these hours, but they must carry proper documentation.
• Passenger limitation: Young drivers can have only one non-family member under 18 with them in the vehicle. After six months on the junior license, the restriction rises to no more than three passengers under 18. Immediate family members are excluded from the restriction. The restriction also does not apply if a parent or legal guardian are in the vehicle with the young driver. Young drivers who are responsible for a reportable crash or have a traffic violation are bound by the rule restricting young non-family member passengers until they turn 18. In any case, there can be no more passengers in their car than available seat belts.
• Learner’s permit valid for one year: The learner’s permit will be valid for one year with extensions for those requiring more practice time.
• Required sanctions for high-risk drivers under age 18: A young driver’s permit will be suspended for 90 days if he or she accumulates six or more points or is convicted of a single high-speed violation (driving 26 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit).
• For a motorcycle permit holder under 18, as of Aug. 31, 2012, a Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program Basic Rider Course must be successfully completed before a motorcycle license can be issued.

Junior License

Young drivers who graduate to a junior license have satisfactorily completed all learner’s permit requirements, including the road test, but the following restrictions still apply:

• Required sanctions for high-risk drivers under age 18: A young driver’s junior license will be suspended for 90 days if he or she accumulates six or more points or is convicted of a single high-speed violation (driving 26 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit).
• Nighttime driving restriction begins at 11 p.m.: Even with a junior license, a young driver may not be behind the wheel between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Exceptions for employment and volunteer or charitable service will apply, but young drivers must carry proper documentation regarding their need to travel.
• Passenger limitation: Young drivers can have only one non-family member under 18 with them in the vehicle. After six months on the junior license, the restriction rises to no more than three passengers under 18. Immediate family members are excluded from the restriction. The restriction also does not apply if a parent or legal guardian are in the vehicle with the young driver. Young drivers who are responsible for a reportable crash or have a traffic violation are bound by the rule restricting young non-family member passengers until they turn 18. In any case, there can be no more passengers in their car than available seat belts.

Unrestricted License

A full, unrestricted license — typically issued at age 18 — provides unlimited driving privileges to teenagers who have progressed through the graduated system and have an established history of safe driving. If certain conditions are met, some young drivers may qualify for an early license before age 18.

• Unrestricted license before age 18: A young driver cannot obtain an unrestricted license before age 18 unless he or she has maintained a crash- and conviction-free record for 12 months and has completed an approved driver’s education course. To apply for an unrestricted license before age 18, young drivers must complete a special form, DL-59, and submit it to PennDOT along with a certificate of completion from an approved driver’s education course. An affidavit of consent from a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse who is at least 18 years of age must also be provided.
• Passenger limitation: The number of passengers must not exceed the number of seat belts in the vehicle.
• Required sanctions for high-risk drivers under age 18: A young driver’s unrestricted license will be suspended for 90 days if he or she accumulates six or more points or is convicted of a single high-speed violation (driving 26 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit).