Colorado
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Colorado
In 2010, 67 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Colorado. Over the past five years, Colorado crashes involving teen drivers claimed 426 lives. Nationally, since 2000, more than 85,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Colorado
The current GDL law in Colorado 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 12 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 midnight and 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage (secondary enforcement)
- A passenger restriction prohibiting any passengers for the first 6 months after licensure and prohibiting more than one passenger for the next 6 months after licensure (secondary enforcement)
- A prohibition on texting while driving for all drivers
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones for all drivers younger than age 18
These changes are needed to improve Colorado’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Require age 16 for entry into the learner’s permit stage
- Extend all restrictions on teen drivers through age 17
For more information and to contact your state representative, please visit: http://www.state.co.us/.
To contact your Member of Congress about the STANDUP Act, S. 528 / H.R. 1515, please visit: http://www.capitolconnect.com/saferoads4teens/
