California
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in California
In 2008, 593 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in California. Over the past five years, California crashes involving teen drivers claimed 3676 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 84,400 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in California
The current GDL law in California includes the following components:
- A three-stage licensing system beginning at age 15 years and 6 months for learner’s permit, age 16 years for the intermediate stage, and age 17 years for full licensure
- A mandatory 6 month holding period for the learner’s permit stage
- A minimum of 50 hours of supervised practice driving during the learner’s permit stage, at least 10 of which must be at night
- A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage (secondary enforcement)
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than one passenger younger than age 20 (with limited exceptions for immediate family) for the first year after licensure (secondary enforcement)
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones for all drivers
- A prohibition on texting while driving for all drivers
These changes are needed to improve California’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Require age 16 for entry into the learner’s permit stage
- Extend restrictions on teen drivers through age 17
