Rhode Island
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Rhode Island
In 2010, 7 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Rhode Island. Over the past five years, Rhode Island crashes involving teen drivers claimed 60 lives. Nationally, since 2000, nearly 85,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers.
Graduated Driver Licensing Laws in Rhode Island
The current GDL law in Rhode Island 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 years and 6 months 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 nighttime driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage
- A passenger restriction prohibiting more than one passenger younger than age 21 for the first 12 months after licensure
- A prohibition on non-emergency use of hand-held and hands-free cell phones by drivers younger than age 18
- A prohibition on texting while driving for all drivers
These changes are needed to improve Rhode Island’s GDL law and meet the requirements of the STANDUP Act
- Extend all restrictions on teen drivers through age 17
For more information and to contact your state representative, please visit: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/.
To contact your Member of Congress about the STANDUP Act, S. 528 / H.R. 1515, please visit: http://www.capitolconnect.com/saferoads4teens/
