Oklahoma
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Oklahoma
In 2010, 101 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Oklahoma. Over the past five years, Oklahoma crashes involving teen drivers claimed 655 lives. Nationally, since 2000, more than 85,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Oklahoma
The current GDL law in Oklahoma includes the following components:
- A three-stage licensing system beginning at age 15 years and 6 months for learner’s permit, age 16 for the intermediate stage, and age 17 for full licensure (age 16 years and 6 months for teens who complete driver education)
- 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 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than one passenger
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of hand-held cell phones during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages
- A prohibition on texting while driving during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages
These changes are needed to improve Oklahoma’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Require age 16 for entry into the learner’s permit stage
- Extend restrictions on teen drivers through age 17
- Strengthen the prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones by adding a prohibition on use of hands-free cell phones during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages
For more information and to contact your state representative, please visit: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/.
To contact your Member of Congress about the STANDUP Act, S. 528 / H.R. 1515, please visit: http://www.capitolconnect.com/saferoads4teens/
