Kentucky
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Kentucky
In 2008, 138 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Kentucky. Over the past five years, Kentucky crashes involving teen drivers claimed 851 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 84,400 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Kentucky
The current GDL law in Kentucky includes the following components:
- A three-stage licensing system beginning at age 16 for learner’s permit, age 16 years and 6 months for the intermediate stage, and age 17 for full licensure
- A mandatory 6 month holding period for the learner’s permit stage
- A minimum of 60 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 midnight and 6 a.m. during the intermediate stage
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than one passenger younger than age 20 unless supervised by a driving instructor (secondary enforcement)
These changes are needed to improve Kentucky’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Extend restrictions on teen drivers through age 17
- 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
