Teenage Drivers Information
Updated January 2007
Washington
State Department of Licensing has a great page on obtaining a drivers license
http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/steps.html
Some basic
information:
I. An
instruction permit allows a youth to practice driving before taking the driving test to obtain their license.
If enrolled in a driver’s education class
a student can get their permit at age 15. If not enrolled they must wait until 15 1/2 and pass the written test given by the
department of licensing.
For more
information http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/getpermit.html
II. Steps
to get an intermediate drivers license if under 18 years old.
- Must
be 16 years of age
- Pass
a traffic safety education course
- Have
had an instruction permit for at least 6 months
- Have
had at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice with someone who has been licensed for 5 years or more, including 10
hours at night.
- Not
have had any traffic violations within 6 months of applying for a license
- Not
have been convicted of any alcohol or drug offense while holding a permit.
For more information http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/teens.html
Q. What
is an intermediate license?
In 2000 the state legislature enacted new laws
to restrict the driving of youth under the age of 18 years old and implemented the “intermediate drivers license”
program. To get an intermediate license you must:
- Be
at least 16 years of age
- Hold
an instruction permit at least 6 months
- Complete
driver education
- Drive
at least 50 hours, 10 of them at night, while supervised
- Pass
a driving test
After getting an intermediate license you may:
- First
6 months – not carry passengers younger than 20 other than immediate family
- After
6 months – not carry more than 3 passengers younger than 20 other than immediate family
- Not
drive between 1 am and 5 am unless supervised
Restrictions end:
- After
1 year or 18, whichever comes first
These laws may be changes this legislative session
due to a study conducted by the Joint Transportation Legislative Committee dated January 2007
http://www.leg.wa.gov/documents/LTC/jtc/Teenage%20Driving%20Study%201-%2010%20-07.pdf
III. What
are traffic safety education courses required to provide?
Programs must include the following:
- 30
hours of classroom instruction, with a maximum of 2 hours per day.
- Minimum
of 4 hours of behind-the-wheel training, with a maximum of 1 hour per day.
- Minimum
of 1 hour of behind-the-wheel observation
- Total
of 50 hours of mandatory out-of-class practice time, including ten hours of nighttime driving.
Curriculum requirements http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/521014.pdf
Drivers training programs are taught by commercial
driving schools and at some public schools for a fee, fees range from $300-$600.
Q. Can
a parent buy a commercial curriculum and teach their child drivers education?
Yes, but under current law this will not count
towards the requirement to pass a traffic safety education course.
CHN has introduced a bill in the 2007 legislative
session to change this law to allow for parent taught drivers education. Here is a great article explaining this option.
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/P/Parent_Taught_Drivers_Ed.asp
The web site for National Driver Training has
more information on parent taught drivers education http://www.usdrivertraining.com/
