Rhode Island
Deaths in Crashes Involving Teen Drivers in Rhode Island
In 2008, 9 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers in Rhode Island. Over the past five years, Rhode Island crashes involving teen drivers claimed 82 lives. Nationally, since 1999, more than 84,400 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 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 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
