Nebraska
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Nebraska
In 2008, 52 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Nebraska. Over the past five years, Nebraska crashes involving teen drivers claimed 322 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 84,400 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Nebraska
The current GDL law in Nebraska includes the following components:
- A three-stage licensing system beginning at age 15 for learner’s permit, age 16 years 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 (none required for teens who complete driver education)
- A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving between midnight and 6 a.m. during the intermediate stage (secondary enforcement)
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than one passenger younger than age 19 for the first 6 months after licensure (secondary enforcement)
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages until age 18 (secondary enforcement)
These changes are needed to improve Nebraska’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
- Strengthen the passenger restriction to prohibit more than one non-familial passenger under the age of 21 unless a licensed driver over age 21 is in the vehicle, for the entire intermediate stage through age 17
