Louisiana
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Louisiana
In 2008, 149 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Louisiana. Over the past five years, Louisiana crashes involving teen drivers claimed 892 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 85,600 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Louisiana
The current GDL law in Louisiana 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 17 for full licensure
- A mandatory 6 month holding period for the learner’s permit stage
- A minimum of 35 hours of supervised practice driving during the learner’s permit stage
- A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages
- A prohibition on texting while driving for all drivers
These changes are needed to improve Louisiana’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
- Add a passenger restriction prohibiting more than one non-familial passenger under the age of 21 unless a licensed driver over the age of 21 is in the vehicle, for the entire intermediate stage through age 17
