New York
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in New York
In 2008, 181 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in New York. Over the past five years, New York crashes involving teen drivers claimed 1155 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 84,400 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in New York
The current GDL law in New York 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 18 for full licensure (age 17 for teens who complete driver education)
- A mandatory holding period during the learner’s permit stage of up to 6 months
- A minimum of 20 hours of supervised practice driving during the learner’s permit stage
- A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than two passengers younger than age 21
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of hand-held cell phones for drivers of all ages
- A prohibition on texting while driving for all drivers (secondary enforcement)
These changes are needed to improve New York’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Strengthen the minimum age for full licensure by removing the exception for teens who complete driver education
- 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
