Florida
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Florida
In 2008, 516 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Florida. Over the past five years, Florida crashes involving teen drivers claimed 3062 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 84,400 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Florida
The current GDL law in Florida 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 18 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 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. (16 year old drivers) or 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. (17 year old drivers) during the intermediate stage
These changes are needed to improve Florida’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Require age 16 for entry into the learner’s permit stage
- Add a passenger restriction prohibiting more than one non-familial passenger under the age of 21 unless a licensed driver over the age of 21 is in the vehicle, for the entire intermediate stage through age 17
- Add a prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones and other communications devices , including texting while driving, during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages
