Teen Driving Laws: Passenger Restrictions Under Graduated Driver Licensing Law

Depending on the state you live in, the rules and regulations under the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law is different. One of the restrictions that most states enforce is the number of passengers allowed to drive with new teen drivers. Find out the details about passenger restrictions for teen drivers below!

Passengers and Risky Behaviors

According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teen drivers are two-and-a-half times more likely to engage in one or more potentially risky behaviors when driving with one teenage peer. This is compared to when they are driving alone. That number increases to three times compared to when driving alone when the teen driver has multiple passengers in the vehicle. We all know peer pressure exists, so they are more likely to do something with others in the car.

How You Can Help

As a parent or loved one of a teen driver, there are steps you can take to help make sure your teen driver is following these restrictions:

• The first thing you can do is make sure you fully understand your state's graduated driver licensing (GDL) law. Once you know it, make sure you are enforcing its guidelines for your teen.
• While the GDL laws are in place, you can set your own rules and consequences. Establish the consequences you will enforce if your teen doesn't follow the state GDL restrictions. If there are no passenger restrictions for your state, establish your own rules limiting the number of passengers in the car and enforce it. As the stats show above, teens do riskier behaviors with more passengers present, so limiting the number in the vehicle with them is key.

Follow The Rules

According to the GDL laws, most states do restrict the number of passengers that can ride in a vehicle driven by a teenager. These laws are put in place because passengers distract an inexperienced teen driver who should be focused only on the road. This increases the likelihood of a crash taking place. If you are in one of the states that do not have passenger restrictions (FL, IA, MS, SD, AND ND), you should establish your own rules for your teenager. This should focus on who can ride with them and how many people they can have in the vehicle at one time. Once the rules are in place, make sure they are following them at all times.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.