Kentucky
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Kentucky
In 2010, 114 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Kentucky. Over the past five years, Kentucky crashes involving teen drivers claimed 696 lives. Nationally, since 2000, more than 85,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Kentucky
The current GDL law in Kentucky 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 60 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 6 a.m. during the intermediate stage
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than one passenger younger than age 20 unless supervised by a driving instructor (secondary enforcement)
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of hands-free and hand-held cell phones for drivers younger than age 18
- A prohibition on texting for all drivers
These changes are needed to improve Kentucky’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- 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
For more information and to contact your state representative, please visit: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/.
To contact your Member of Congress about the STANDUP Act, S. 528 / H.R. 1515, please visit: http://www.capitolconnect.com/saferoads4teens/
