Going Back to School on Graduated Driver Licensing

Schools across the state open this week and that means a new group of teen drivers will be on the road. If you’ve got a novice driver in the house, take the time to brush up on your knowledge of New Jersey’s graduated driver license (GDL) program, which is proven to reduce teen crash risk. 

The three-step licensing process (permit, probationary/restricted license, basic/unrestricted license) is designed to help teen drivers gain experience and build skill while minimizing those things that cause them the greatest risk -- distraction caused by passengers and the use of cell phones and other electronic devices, as well as driving late at night and riding unbelted. Addressing risk is essential since car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in New Jersey and nationwide. Last year, more than 38,000 teen-related crashes occurred on the state’s roadways claiming the lives of 20 teen drivers and 10 teen passengers.  

Crash data confirms that distraction and inattention caused not just by electronic devices, but other passengers is the leading cause of teen crashes in the Garden State. While teens want to drive themselves and their friends and siblings to and from school, parents must understand the risks associated with teen drivers and passengers. Just one teen passenger increases a teen driver’s crash risk by 48 percent. Add three or more teens and the risk jumps by as much as 307 percent.   

Teens are aware of the risk. In a study conducted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm, 94 percent of teens report seeing passengers engaged in distracted behaviors. Under New Jersey’s GDL program, a teen holding a probationary license may only carry one passenger (there’s no exemption for siblings).  Parents need to reinforce the one passenger limit with their teen whether he or she is the driver or a passenger in another teen’s car.  Additionally, I encourage parents to talk with the parents of their teens’ friends about this restriction to ensure that everyone is on the same page. 

That goes for driving at night. Ensuring that probationary license holders refrain from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. is also critical since 40 percent of teen driver fatal crashes happen at night.  While it may be tempting to allow your teen to drive past the curfew, particularly if he’s involved in school activities, resist the urge. Your teen may not think it’s cool to be picked up by mom or dad or your may find the late night run inconvenient, but safety should always trump convenience and perception.  

Also be sure to reinforce the use of seat belts daily. Despite growing up with car and booster seats, today’s teens are less likely to buckle up regardless of seating position. With the highest crash risk of any age group on the road, ensuring your teen wears a seat belt on every trip is essential.