Michigan
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Michigan
In 2010, 165 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Michigan. Over the past five years, Michigan crashes involving teen drivers claimed 935 lives. Nationally, since 2000, more than 85,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Michigan
The current GDL law in Michigan includes the following components:
- A three-stage licensing system beginning at age 14 years and 9 months 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 50 hours of supervised practice driving during the learner’s permit stage, at least 10 of which must be at night
- A prohibition on nighttime driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage
- 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, until age 17
- A prohibition on texting while driving for all drivers
These changes are needed to improve Michigan’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 prohibition on non-emergency use of hand-held and hands-free cell phones during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages
For more information and to contact your state representative, please visit: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/.
To contact your Member of Congress about the STANDUP Act, S. 528 / H.R. 1515, please visit: http://www.capitolconnect.com/saferoads4teens/
