Washington's Intermediate License Program
"There are no good or bad teens...ALL teens are new to the responsibilities and experience of driving." Washington's Intermediate License law will help our youngest drivers gain the experience they need to be safer drivers for the rest of their lives. This law will help to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and deaths that involve our state's least experienced drivers.
Elements of an intermediate or Graduated driver licensing program:
Age 15 or older - an instruction permit authorizing driving only while supervised by a licensed driver with at least 5 years of driving experience. Must be at least 15 1/2 or actively enrolled in an approved driver's education course.
Age 16 until 18 - an intermediate license that reduces the opportunity for inexperienced drivers to drive in high-risk conditions. Warns the driver who acts irresponsibly and suspends the river who commits two or more driving offenses.
Age 18 or older - a full privilege driver license
Teen licensing law in other states as of 1999
33 states have adopted laws that restrict teen driving - at least 12 other states are considering similar laws
22 states have now adopted a full graduated licensing system
Eight states enacted teen driving restrictions in 1999
Supervised driving practice requirements range from 12 to 100 hours
Most restricted night driving is between midnight and 5 a.m., but some states restrictions are 11:00 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The effect of teen crashes in Washington State:
Fatal teen traffic collisions are more than DOUBLE the rate of all other drivers combined
Vehicular collisions are the LEADING cause of death for young Washington citizens ages 15-20
From 1993-98 a total of 753 people lost their lives on Washington roads as a result of teen driver crashes
The number of crashes per million miles driven, by youthful driver
Age 16: ----------------------------------- 35
Age 17: -------------------- 20
Age 18: -------------- 14
Age 19: ------------- 13
20-24: --------- 9
Florida's graduated license:
Florida's graduated license (implemented in 1995), saved the lives of new drivers and cut the number of crashes.
20% | |||
15% | |||
10% | |||
5% | |||
Age of driver | 15 | 16 | 17 |
The chart shows how much Florida lowered the fatal and injury crash rates following the introduction of Graduated Licensing. Washington's hopes to do as well if not better.