Tennessee
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Tennessee
In 2008, 184 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Tennessee. Over the past five years, Tennessee crashes involving teen drivers claimed 1178 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 84,400 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Tennessee
The current GDL law in Tennessee 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 50 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 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the intermediate stage
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than one passenger
- 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 Tennessee’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
