Brakes Put on Teen Drivers
By David Mabie, CFP, ChFC
WEAC Member Benefit Trust
April 2000
A new state budget provision will slow down life behind the wheel for
teenage drivers in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) was written into law
as part of Wisconsin’s 1999-2001 biennial budget. The new system
requires teen drivers to pass through preliminary stages with limited
driving privileges before they can earn their regular license.
While full implementation of GDL is September 1, some provisions took
effect February 1, including a mandate for student drivers to get 30 hours
of supervised experience behind the wheel before exchanging their learner’s
permits for probationary licenses.
About three dozen states have adopted provisions of GDL as a way to reduce
the number of teenagers killed and injured in traffic crashes. Drivers
between ages 16 and 19 are more likely to be in a motor vehicle crash
than any other age group. In Wisconsin, teenagers make up only 6.3% of
all licensed drivers but are involved in 14% of all crashes and 11% of
fatal crashes, state Depart-ment of Transportation statistics show.
Starting September 1, new drivers will face stiffer penalties for traffic
violations and probationary licenses will come with restrictions on when
teens can drive and how many passengers they can carry. These restrictions
will last nine months or until the driver turns 18 and can be extended
if a driver violates the restrictions, is convicted of a moving traffic
violation, or has his or her license revoked or suspended.
It’s a stronger version of Wisconsin’s current system, in which
drivers progress from learner’s permits to probationary licenses
to regular licenses.
Provisions of GDL include:
- Learner permit holders under age 18 will need 30 hours of practice
driving time. This should be with a parent, legal guardian, or qualified
instructor.
- Learner permit holders must remain free of moving violation convictions
for six months to be eligible for the probationary license.
- For the first nine months a driver under age 18 holds the probationary
license, the law will restrict nighttime driving (none between midnight
and 5 a.m. – with work and school exemptions) and transporting
non-family passengers under age 21 (one such passenger allowed).
- The law doubles moving-violation points for probationary license holders’
second and subsequent convictions.
- If 12 points are accumulated in 12 months, the state will suspend
a probationary license for six months. For more information, call a
WEAC Member Benefit Trust personal insurance consultant at 1-800-279-4010.
Posted May 26, 2000