Delaware
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Delaware
In 2010, 16 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Delaware. Over the past five years, Delaware crashes involving teen drivers claimed 109 lives. Nationally, since 2000, more than 85,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Delaware
The current GDL law in Delaware includes the following components:
- A three-stage licensing system beginning at age 16 for learner’s permit, age 16 years and 6 months 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 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the intermediate stage
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than one passenger during the intermediate stage
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of hand-held cell phones for all drivers; a prohibition on non-emergency use of hands-free cells phones for drivers younger than age 18
- A prohibition on texting while driving for all drivers
These changes are needed to improve Delaware’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Extend restrictions on teen drivers through age 17
For more information and to contact your state representative, please visit: http://legis.delaware.gov/.
To contact your Member of Congress about the STANDUP Act, S. 528 / H.R. 1515, please visit: http://www.capitolconnect.com/saferoads4teens/
