| State | Learner’s Allow | Restricted License | Full License |
| Alabama | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Alaska | 14 | 16 | 16, 6 mos. |
| Arizona | 15, 6 mos. | 16 | 16, 6 mos. |
| Arkansas | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| California | 15, 6 mos. | 16 | 17 |
| Colorado | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Connecticut | 16 | 16, 4 mos. | 18 |
| Delaware | 16 | 16, 6 mos. | 17 |
| District of Columbia | 16 | 16, 6 mos. | 18 |
| Florida | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Georgia | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Hawaii | 15, 6 mos. | 16 | 17 |
| Idaho | 14, 6 mos. | 15 | 16 |
| Illinois | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Indiana | 15 | 16, 3 mos. | 18 |
| Iowa | 14 | 16 | 17 |
| Kansas | 14 | 16 | 16, 6 mos. |
| Kentucky | 16 | 16, 6 mos. | 17 |
| Louisiana | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Maine | 15 | 16 | 16, 9 mos. |
| Maryland | 15, 9 mos. | 16, 6 mos. | 18 |
| Massachusetts | 16 | 16, 6 mos. | 18 |
| Michigan | 14, 9 mos. | 16 | 17 |
| Minnesota | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Mississippi | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Missouri | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Montana | 14, 6 mos. | 15 | 16 |
| Nebraska | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Nevada | 15, 6 mos. | 16 | 18 |
| New Hampshire | 15, 6 mos. | 16 | 17, 1 mos. |
| New Jersey | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| New Mexico | 15 | 15, 6 mos. | 16, 6 mos. |
| New York | 16 | 16, 6 mos. | 18 |
| North Carolina | 15 | 16 | 16, 6 mos. |
| North Dakota | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| Ohio | 15, 6 mos. | 16 | 18 |
| Oklahoma | 15, 6 mos. | 16 | 17 |
| Oregon | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | 16, 6 mos. | 18 |
| Rhode Island | 16 | 16, 6 mos. | 17, 6 mos. |
| South Carolina | 15 | 15, 6 mos. | 16, 6 mos. |
| South Dakota | 14 | 14, 6 mos. | 16 |
| Tennessee | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Texas | 15 | 16 | 18 |
| Utah | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Vermont | 15 | 16 | 16, 6 mos. |
| Virginia | 15, 6 mos. | 16 | 18 |
| Washington | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| West Virginia | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Wisconsin | 15, 6 mos. | 16 | 16, 9 mos. |
| Wyoming | 15 | 16 | 16, 6 mos. |
Learner’s Permits
Analysis suggests many dad and mom miss necessary alternatives to show children to turn into protected drivers. As an alternative, they rely an excessive amount of on driver’s education schemes.
As soon as your teen has a learner’s allow, do not consider your self as a passenger when your teen is behind the wheel. Consider your self as a instructor.
Assist your teen be taught to acknowledge potential issues of safety whereas driving.
Give directions to assist your teen enhance and present loads of constructive suggestions.
Every state has totally different legal guidelines about learner’s permits and what number of hours a teen must be behind the wheel. Take these legal guidelines significantly and be sure to’re serving to your teen acquire the expertise they should turn into a protected driver.
Restrictions
Whereas an absence of sleep impairs everybody’s efficiency, research present sleep deprivation takes probably the most critical toll on teenagers. Teenagers usually tend to make errors when driving later into the night.
Nighttime
Amongst 16- and 17-year-olds, roughly one-third of deadly automotive crashes happen between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. So, many states have enacted curfews to stop teenagers from driving through the in a single day hours. For instance, Alabama would not enable newly licensed teenagers to drive between midnight and 6 a.m. North Carolina would not enable teenagers to drive between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Passengers
Researchers have discovered that for every passenger a teen has within the automotive, the chance of a automotive crash will increase. Buddies can function a critical distraction, and so they could encourage your teen to take pointless dangers. Consequently, many states have determined to limit passengers in vehicles pushed by teenagers.
Whereas some states do not enable newly licensed teenagers to have passengers for a number of months, others limit the variety of minor passengers that may be in a automotive. Exceptions are often made for siblings.
Cellphone
Speaking on the telephone whereas driving serves as a significant distraction that will increase the chance a teen will make driving errors. So many states have adopted particular cellphone restrictions for younger drivers.
Sadly, some research recommend cellphone restrictions may very well improve the possibilities {that a} teen will try and ship textual content messages whereas behind the wheel. In an try to hide cellphone use, teenagers could turn into much more distracted by attempting to kind messages on the sly.
It is vital for fogeys to speak to teenagers concerning the dangers of distracted driving.
If a teen is caught sending messages or utilizing a cellphone whereas driving, there ought to be clear penalties.
Security
On the subject of letting your teen drive, do not rely in your state legal guidelines to maintain your youngster protected. Create your personal guidelines and restrictions to your teen’s particular wants.
Take into account that simply because your teen is sufficiently old to drive legally, it does not imply they’re mature sufficient to deal with the accountability.
In case your 16-year-old recurrently acts aggressive, impulsive, or irresponsible, do not allow them to behind the wheel simply but.
With a view to be protected drivers, teenagers want to have the ability to assume clearly, make good choices, and resist temptations.
As soon as your teen has a driver’s license, improve their freedom slowly. Bear in mind, you do not have to grant new privileges simply because the graduated licensing legal guidelines enable them to drive at evening or use a cellphone within the automotive. You’ll be able to proceed to impose restrictions of your personal.
A Phrase From Verywell
In case your teen violates the legislation or breaks your guidelines, give them penalties. Take away their keys for some time or limit the hours or locations your teen drives.
And think about enrolling your teen in packages that train driver security past driver’s schooling. You would possibly get a reduction on automotive insurance coverage, however extra importantly, extra driver coaching might save your teen’s life.