Georgia
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Georgia
In 2008, 233 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Georgia. Over the past five years, Georgia crashes involving teen drivers claimed 1506 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 84,400 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Georgia
The current GDL law in Georgia includes the following components:
- A three-stage licensing system beginning at age 15 for learner’s permit, age 16 for the intermediate stage, and age 18 for full licensure
- A mandatory 12 month holding period for the learner’s permit stage
- A minimum of 40 hours of supervised practice driving during the learner’s permit stage, at least 6 of which must be at night
- A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving between midnight and 6 a.m. during the intermediate stage (secondary enforcement)
- A passenger restriction prohibiting passengers during the first 6 months after licensure; prohibiting more than 1 passenger during the next 6 months after licensure; and prohibiting more than 3 passengers during the remainder of the intermediate stage (secondary enforcement)
These changes are needed to improve Georgia’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Require age 16 for entry into the learner’s permit stage
- Add a prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones and other communications devices , including texting while driving, during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages
