New Teen Driving Laws?

[FeelTheRT]

Any other state have these nonsense outrageous laws besides VA?

---New Law---

For Learner's Permit:

-Minimum age; 15 years and 6 months
-Holding period; 9 months or age 18 whichever comes first*
-Behind-the-wheel training hours; before a juv. can qualify for a licese, hi/her parents must certify that the teen has 40 hours of behind-the-wheel traning experience, at least 10 of which must be after sunset
-Passenger limits; no more than one passenger under age 18
-curfew; learner's permit holders may not operate a motor vehicle between midnight and 4:00 a.m.

Driver's License:

-Age of applicant; 16 years and 3 months*
-Passenger limits; 16-year-olds many not carry more than one passenger under age 18. 17-year-olds may not carry more than three passengers under age 18.
-Curfew; Licensed drivers under age 18 may not drive between midnight and 4:00 a.m.

Now tell me these laws rn't crazy . . .

[Arturus]

I'll be honest and say they made it 'sound' a bit complicated.

Other than that, I think laws on teens driving should be more restricted and held to a higher standard.

*gets ready to be flamed by every teen in the forum*

Wait until you gain a few years and you'll see my reasoning.

[Army]

Sounds good to me.

65% of fatal car wrecks are caused by, or involve minors (NHSB sources). Reason is; minors do NOT have the skills, that are learned over time, to handle a vehicle in an emergency situation.

You may be thinking "hey, I can drive good! I'll show you buddy....." BUZZZZZZZ wrong answer. Minors also do not have the emotional control that comes with age and experience. I can dare/bet/scare you into a race in a heartbeat, but you will turn blue trying to get me to go fast for no reason other than ego.

Alcohol is also the number 1 killer of teen drivers. You guys just can't handle your liquor, no matter how much you brag about it. Putting a cocky teen behind the wheel unsupervised is loading the gun. Adding alcohol is cocking the hammer. Lack of knowledge and skills simply pulls the trigger.

The more new drivers that are slowly weened into driving the better. You don't have to like it, but you will grow old and get over it

[wimag]

RT: That doesnt seem too bad. Define what part of the law you feel uncomftorable with.

[FeelTheRT]

well for one, i have to spend 2 extra hours behind the wheel durring day and 1 extra hour durring nigh. Another thing, I can only have one passenger?? what if this guy is on the street and has just been shot and asks me to give him a ride to the hospital? what am i supposed to say? "sorry bro, i really wish i could help ya but i can't carry any more than one person, RIP". Since there will be less carpooling imagin the trafic in the area and in school parking lots. School parking lots are already crowded enough. The school is already charging like 100 bux to park on school grounds to limit the trafic but now there will be almost a 1/2 increase of trafic in the school lot.

jeez, i could have just gotten the permit before July 1st and alot of the stuff wouldn't have applied to me but nnoooo, i was too lazy , now i suffer the conceqenses.

[Ni cD]

Tennessee has recently passed some similar laws.

At first I didn't like them, but after I thought about it for a little while I could see that they were actually needed. Teen drivers, while a majority is good, tend to be a little on the crazy side. That and a lack of skill can cause serious injuries, and / or death.

How many times have you seen some kid pull out of a parking lot...tires squealing like a bat out of hell, windows down with super loud music pouring out of the car, his buddies sticking half way out of every window (lol), speeding around like the gangsters they aren't? I see that kinda stuff all the time around where I live...maybe its not the same way in your area. Hopefully with these new laws, this type of thing will diminish...those people annoy me, and many others.

As for fewer accidents, God knows I've been saved from many due to my mother or father's presence in the car with me. I appreciate the fact that I have to wait longer to get my license. For with this in mind, I know that I'll be a better driver when I'm by myself.

By the way, I'm 17...no license yet.

[wimag]

sucks for you. how could you have been lazy bout getting a liscence. When i was 15 that was all i focused on, well the second thing actually.
Yeah wisconsin is getting some zany laws also with teen drivers and similar restrictions as well.
Reminds me of when they upped the drinking age, and i was fairly close to the cutoff for being granfathered into the 19 legal category but missed it so had to wait to 21 (legally).
All i know is when my twin 5 year olds get old enough to drive and the laws will force more money for an additional vehicle because of it i will start asking the state for some compensation. Bunch of old windbag, morons, who would have a hard time managing a self serve gas staion with one pump and no snacks.
Just tell your buds to duck.

[shartley]

Another thing, I can only have one passenger?? what if this guy is on the street and has just been shot and asks me to give him a ride to the hospital? what am i supposed to say? "sorry bro, i really wish i could help ya but i can't carry any more than one person, RIP".

Since there will be less carpooling imagin the trafic in the area and in school parking lots. School parking lots are already crowded enough. The school is already charging like 100 bux to park on school grounds to limit the trafic but now there will be almost a 1/2 increase of trafic in the school lot

[thehead]

Teen driving

Do teens really need to drive THAT bad? Really, I made it all the way through high school and two years of college without a car, so I'm sure there's someone else out there who can. Learn to ride a bike to school (and be healthy, yeah!), walk with friends, take the bus (ok, maybe not), etc. You'll survive the changes, I promise.


Head

[TamaPlaya]

As much as I hate to agree with Army, being 16 myself... but hes right... I dont trust other people my age, driving skills... I've been ridding with them, and they'd just slam on the breaks for no reason, except that they thought they where going too fast... I tell them to just slow down next time.. no need to lock up the breaks when your only going 15 mph. over the speed limit.. simple things like these, can prove fatal at times. Sure, I wish things where like before, but, I believe it is safer this way, and a smart thing to do.

[Ni cD]

Originally posted by TamaPlaya
As much as I hate to agree with Army, being 16 myself... but hes right... I dont trust other people my age, driving skills... I've been ridding with them, and they'd just slam on the breaks for no reason, except that they thought they where going too fast... I tell them to just slow down next time.. no need to lock up the breaks when your only going 15 mph. over the speed limit.. simple things like these, can prove fatal at times. Sure, I wish things where like before, but, I believe it is safer this way, and a smart thing to do.

Exactly!!!

*My short post for the day*

[MajorDamage]

In Tennessee they are similar. you can be 15 and get a permit, 16 and get a license but have to have a parent say youve had I think its 50 hours driving time, and have to have had a permit for at least 3 months. When you get the license you cant drive with more than one person under the age of 21 unless someone OVER 21 is in the car. No driving between 11 and 6 A.M. unless for school, work, or you are hunting or fishing and have hunting and fishing licenses. You also must have a permission slip from a parent to do the driving between those times. You can drive siblings to school tho. You get a regular license at age 17. I think thats about it.

ENDO!

[ShinyGuy]

To respond to what Army said; it isn't true that young drivers cause a larger percentage of accidents. Inexperienced drivers cause them. Someone who gets his licence at 16 is less likely to have an accident in his first 2 years of driving than someone who first gets his licence at 25 or 30. Age and experience give one better judgement and more skill, however, youth makes one more observant and gives one better reflexes.

As far as alcohol goes, a drunk driver of any age is an extreem hazard and ,while it's true the people in the 16-25 age range may drink more recklessly than their elders, it is a completely seperate problem. It need to be solved not by restricting the driving freedoms of all minors but with better education about drinking responsibly.

Regarding the current laws, I agree completely with the restrictions on a learners permit. You don't have a licence. The only reason you're on the road at all is because there isn't any batter way to learn. The restrictions on drivers under age 18 are much more questionable. These people are less experienced and some restrictions are reasonable, however, they should apply to all new drivers not just those under 18. The real crime is that these restrictions have only been placed on the citizens who can't vote.

[Magadeth]

Personnaly I think that the age you can drink at should be lowered to 16, and the age you can drive at should be raised to 18. Call me silly, but I think kids should leaarn how much alchohol they can handle before they get behind the wheel. All to often I see a fatality traffic accident when someone turned 21.

[Lockawam]

I hate this new law in Tennessee, now I gotta wait a long time until I can offroading with a bunch of my redeck friends in the back of the truck.