Young Driver

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 16-24 year olds. Some key contributors to crashes involving teen drivers in Pennsylvania include driver inexperience, driver distractions, driving too fast for conditions and improper or careless turning. PennDOT offers numerous resources for young drivers, as well as parents and guardians, to help keep everyone safe on the road during this time.

Pennsylvania's Graduated Driver Licensing

PennDOT continually looks for ways to enhance the driver´s license issuance process for teens while maintaining a balance between safety and mobility. Pennsylvania´s Graduated Driver Licensing Law, which took effect in 1999, was a major enhancement to teen driver safety and has proven effective in reducing crashes and fatalities for 16-and 17-year-olds. The provisions of the law are as follows:

Six months of learning: A mandatory 6-month skill-building with a learner´s permit to practice and gain experience is required before a young driver may take the road test for a junior license.
The supervising adult in the car with the young driver with a learner´s permit must be an experienced, licensed driver age 21 or more.
50 hours of behind-the-wheel skill-building: A parent or guardian must certify that the young driver´s six months of skill building with a learner´s permit included at least 50 hours of practical, adult-supervised driving experience. To find a driver training program near you, visit the Department of Education´s Web site.
A requirement that the nighttime driving curfew begin at 11 p.m. The young driver may not be behind the wheel between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless they are with a parent or guardian. Young drivers may travel for employment and for volunteer or charitable service during these hours, but they must carry proper documentation.
Stricter sanctioning for junior drivers - a mandatory driver´s license suspension of 90 days for a young driver who accumulates six or more points or has a high speed conviction of 26 miles an hour or more above the posted speed limit.
Young drivers can have no more passengers in their car than available seat belts. This applies to all drivers under age 18.

Tips for Teens

Always wear your seat belt.
Don´t drink and drive. Drinking under the age of 21 is illegal.
Don´t talk or text on your cell phone while driving.
Obey the speed limit. Going too fast gives you less time to react.
Don´t eat or drink while driving.
Adjust radio and climate controls before beginning your trip, have your passenger adjust the controls for you or pull over to a safe place to adjust the controls.
Since in many cases the teen driver shares a vehicle with a parent/guardian, the driver´s seat and all mirrors should be adjusted prior to beginning a trip.
If you cannot see a truck´s mirrors the driver cannot see you.
Plan ahead; know where you are going and get directions.
Leave early. Give yourself plenty of time to get there.
Expect the unexpected. You never know what can happen.

Tips for Parents/Guardians:

Parents/guardians are critical components to keeping teen drivers safe on the roads, as they have the ability to best assess the teen driver´s knowledge, skills and maturity. Here are some tips for teaching your teen to drive

Set an example.
Talk about driving with your teen even before they turn 16.
Know the rules of the road.
Make sure your vehicle is safe and well-maintained.
Be familiar with the tasks and requirements of teaching your teen to drive. Use PennDOT´s publication How to Steer Them to Safe Driving.
Start out slow and simple, in a low traffic area or a parking lot.
Work your way into more difficult driving.
Allow your teen to drive in all situations and all kinds of weather.
There is no such thing as too much practice.

After Your Teenager Receives His or Her Driver´s License - This is a stage where your role is just as if not more critical as when you were teaching them to drive.
Establish a parent/teen driving contract.
Limit the number of passengers your teen is allowed to have in their vehicle.
Enforce a curfew. Limit driving at dawn, dusk and at night until your teen gathers more experience.
Gradually increase the amount of time and distance you allow your teen to drive.
Do not allow your teen to eat or drink while driving.
Do not allow your teen to use a cell phone while driving.
Enforce observance of speed limits and other rules of the road.
Do not allow your teen to drink and drive. Drinking under the age of 21 is illegal.
Ride with your teen occasionally to monitor his or her driving skills.

Parent/Teen Contracts

PennDOT cannot stress enough the importance of adult supervision of teen drivers - it is a critical component of keeping teen drivers safe. PennDOT charges parents/guardians with the responsibility of taking an active role in teaching their teen to drive, leading by example and setting limits. Parents/guardians have the ability to best gauge the teen driver´s knowledge, skills and maturity behind the wheel.

Many insurance companies offer sample Parent/Teen Driving contracts, which enable families to establish guidelines even before the teen starts driving. The contract sets rules and consequences for the teen driver as well as sets expectations of parents/guardians to help the teen driver learn safe and responsible driving. Check with your insurance company to see if they offer sample Parent/Teen Driving contracts or check out this one provided by AAA.

Underage Drinking and Pennsylvania’s Zero Tolerance Law

Pennsylvania´s Zero Tolerance Law carries serious consequences for those under 21 who are convicted of driving with any amount of alcohol in their blood. For example, those under 21 who are convicted of driving under the influence with a .02 blood alcohol content, or greater, face severe penalties, including a 12-to-18-month license suspension, 48 hours to six months in jail, and fines from $500 to $5,000.

A vehicle does not have to be involved in order for those under 21 to lose their driving privileges. It is against the law for an individual under the age of 21 to consume, possesses or transport alcohol, or lie about their age to obtain alcohol and carry a fake identification card. If convicted, the minimum penalties are a fine of up to $500, plus court costs; a 90-day license suspension for the first offense; a 1-year suspension for the second offense; and a 2-year suspension for the third and subsequent offenses.

The courts may require offenders to be evaluated to determine the extent of the involvement with alcohol and may also require successful completion of a program of alcohol education, intervention or counseling.

Additional Impacts on Your Driver´s License
If you do not have a driver´s license, you will be ineligible to apply for a learner´s permit for the time period of the suspension. If you are under 16 years of age, your suspension will not begin until your 16th birthday, provided you acknowledge your suspension, and it is received any time prior to your 16th birthday. In addition to serving a suspension, a restoration fee must be paid before your driverʼs license will be returned or your application for a Non-Commercial Learner´s Permit (DL-180) considered for processing.

Adults, even parents, who are convicted of knowingly and intentionally supplying minors with alcohol are subject to a fine of at least $1,000 for the first offense and $2,500 for each additional offense and face up to one year in jail. Adults are even liable for guests who drink in their homes.