There are few things that parents dread more than their children turning 16. While there is a certain sense of relief that their kids no longer need a chauffeur, the thought of their young sons and daughters being behind the wheel of a car can be scary. This is particularly true given the statistics on serious and deadly crashes for teen drivers.
Fortunately, Washington D.C. has a special program that is designed to help teens mature into good drivers. It not only sets up a process for obtaining a license, but it puts limits on when and how young drivers and be on the road. These teen driving laws can significantly increase the safety of all on the road — including our young people.
Accidents can and do still happen, whether it is due to your child’s inexperience or another driver’s negligence. In these situations, having a skilled Washington, D.C. car accident lawyer can make the difference in getting the compensation that your teen needs to fully recover.
Laws that Every Teen and Their Parents Should Know
In Washington, D.C., 16-year-olds can participate in the Gradual Rearing of Adult Drivers (GRAD) program. This allows teens and young adults between the ages of 16 and 21 to practice driving before they are given unrestricted access to the roads. There are three stages of the GRAD program:
- Supervised learner’s permit
- Provisional license
- Full driver’s license (with conditions)
Each step of the process requires anyone under the age of 18 to have parental consent to participate.
To obtain a supervised learner’s permit, an applicant must present proof of identity, pass a vision screening and knowledge test, and submit the signed parental consent form. With a learner’s permit, teens must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and who is seated in the front passenger seat at all times. Seat belts must be worn at all times, and no cell phone can be used, even hands-free.
While on a learner’s permit, teens cannot drive as part of their job (such as doing delivery work). A teen must practice driving for 40 hours over the course of 6 months before they can move onto the next stage: a provisional license.
After a teen has met the 40 hours/6 months requirements and passed a road skills test, they can upgrade to a provisional license. This allows teens to drive alone, with certain hour restrictions. During this phase, teens must practice at least 10 hours of supervised, nighttime driving.
During this phase, teens are limited in what passengers can be in the car — 1 adult, 21 or older, in the front passenger seat. Parents, siblings, and children are also permitted to ride with teens with provisional licenses.
Teen drivers must hold a provisional license for at least 6 months before applying for a full license. During this time, if they are under 18, their parents or legal guardians will be notified if they commit any violations of the GRAD program or any traffic violations. Any traffic violations that result in points will extend the amount of time that a driver must wait to obtain a full license.
A driver must be free of any violations for 12 consecutive months before they can obtain a full license with conditions. A violation will result in a 30, 60, or 90-day suspension, on top of any other penalty. A driver will be required to pay a reinstatement fee for their provisional license before working towards their full license again.
Finally, a teen can obtain a full license with conditions after successfully completing the terms of the provisional license. With this type of license, a teen can drive no more than 2 passengers under the age of 18 and must follow the driving time restrictions described below. These conditions are lifted once a driver turns 18.
Importantly, there are limits on the hours that can be driven when in the GRAD program. At any time, teens can drive from 6 to 9 p.m. in accordance with the restrictions of their permit or license. In addition, they may drive at the following times:
- Learner’s permit: September to June
- Sunday to Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10:59 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
- Provisional license: July and August
- Every day from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
- Full license (17 to 18 years old): September to June
- Sunday to Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10:59 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
- July and August, every day from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Note that you are permitted to drive outside of GRAD hours if you arriving at or from work, a school activity, a civic event, a religious or athletic event, or a similar activity, or if you are accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.
Why Does D.C. Have Different Laws for Teens?
It may seem unfair (particularly to teenagers) that there are different laws for drivers under the age of 18 than for those who are considered adults. Yet there is a good reason for D.C. (and other jurisdictions) to impose heightened standards on young, inexperienced drivers. Teens are far more likely than older drivers to be in a fatal accident.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens. On average, 6 teenagers lose their lives in car accidents every single day in the United States. Per mile drove, drivers aged 16 to 19 are almost 3 times more likely to be in a fatal crash than drivers aged 20 and older.
The highest risk of accidents for young drivers is during the first year that drivers have their licenses. While all drivers have a great chance of being in a wreck at night, the likelihood of a crash is even higher for teen drivers.
There are multiple reasons why teenagers have a high rate of accidents leading to injuries and fatalities. The most common causes include:
- Inexperience
- Driving with teen passengers
- Driving at night
- Not using seat belts
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Reckless driving
- Impaired driving
Laws such as Washington, D.C.’s teen driver rules are intended to prevent many of these crashes. This includes limitations on driving at night, an extended period of supervision by a licensed driver, and a prohibition on having other teens in the car until a driver has gained experience.
How We Can Help
Your teen may not be little anymore, but they are still your baby. If they have been in a motor vehicle collision, you can still protect them by hiring a Washington, D.C. car accident attorney. By zealously advocating for your child and your family, a lawyer can help make sure that they get the compensation that they deserve.
Patrick Malone and Associates is dedicated to working with families like yours who have been through the trauma of car accidents and other types of injuries. We aggressively pursue settlements for our clients, and when necessary, take insurance companies to try to get justice. Contact us online or call us at 202-742-1500 to schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our team.
