Oregon

Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Oregon

In 2008, 42 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Oregon. Over the past five years, Oregon crashes involving teen drivers claimed 382 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 84,400 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
 
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Oregon
The current GDL law in Oregon 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 100 hours of supervised practice driving during the learner’s permit stage (50 hours for teens who complete driver education)
  • A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving between midnight and 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage
  • A passenger restriction prohibiting passengers younger than age 20 for the first 6 months after licensure and prohibiting more than 3 passengers younger than age 20 for the next 6 months after licensure
  • 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 Oregon’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