Times have changed. While the fundamentals of safe driving haven’t changed, the laws in Virginia concerning teen drivers have. Today’s parents of teen drivers learned in a different landscape, so it’s important to be aware of these changes.
This post will also be a refresher on teen driving tips and tricks, in the hope that everyone’s heart rate lowers just a bit.
My teen wants their driver’s license. What now?
For a driver under the age of 18 to obtain a Virginia driver’s license, they must first do the following:
- Be at least 15 years and 6 months old to apply for a Virginia learner’s permit.
- Successfully complete the required knowledge and vision examinations at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
- Qualify for a Virginia learner’s permit and hold that permit for at least nine months – or until the teen reaches age 18, whichever comes first.
- While holding the learner’s permit, the teen must drive at least 45 hours in guided practice sessions with an adult. At least fifteen of those hours need to take place after sunset. It must be certified to the Virginia DMV that these requirements have been met.
- Complete a driver education course, approved by the Virginia Department of Education, which has both a classroom and a “behind-the-wheel” component. These are offered at all public schools in Virginia, some private schools and/or private driving schools around the Commonwealth.
- Parents must complete a 90-minute parent/teen component of the driver education curriculum.
- Pass the Virginia DMV “road skills test” which is a behind-the-wheel examination.
- The license issued to drivers under the age of 18 in Virginia is called a “provisional driver’s license,” and is subject to more restrictions than licenses issued to adults.
If you are reading the above requirements and feel that you didn’t have to complete so many steps “back in the day,” you are correct! There are many benefits to requiring that teenagers spend a great deal of time and effort obtaining a driver’s license. And the main reason is SAFETY.
Teen car crash statistics
Think 45 hours of practice is excessive? These facts and figures may change your mind.
- The leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States is an automobile crash.
- The risk of a collision is highest among teens aged 16-19 – the newest drivers.
- The 16-19 year-old age group risk is almost three times as high as drivers aged twenty and older.
- Male teen drivers are at the highest risk for motor vehicle crash deaths.
The legal requirements imposed by the Commonwealth of Virginia will ideally help teens and their parents appreciate the risks, take time to practice driving skills, and educate themselves on safe driving.
Before your teen gets behind the wheel, read the below “DOs and DON’Ts” for both parents and teens.
DON’Ts (for teens)
- Speed. Speeding reduces reaction time, and teenage drivers do not have the experience to recognize potential risks the way older, more experienced drivers do. This endangers the life of the person speeding as well as everyone else on the roadway.
- Drink or do drugs and drive. Teen drivers have a higher risk of being involved in a crash than older drivers at the same blood alcohol concentration (BAC), or even at BAC levels below the legal limit for adults. About 17% of drivers ages 15–20 who were involved in fatal car crashes had a BAC of 0.08% or higher—a level that is illegal for adults in all U.S. states.
- Drive at night. Drowsiness makes drivers four times more likely to be in a crash. In many cases, the effects of drowsy driving will mimic that of impaired or drunk driving. Under Virginia law, teenage drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from driving between midnight and 4:00 am. The exceptions are:
- When driving to or from work
- When driving to or from an organized school or volunteer activity under adult supervision
- Are with an adult spouse, parent, or guardian in the passenger seat
- In case of an emergency
- Get distracted. Having multiple young people in one vehicle is likely to lead to driver distraction and accidents. Under Virginia law, drivers under the age of 18 can only carry one passenger under the age of 21 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian in the front passenger seat. Limited exceptions to that rule apply after the teen driver has held a valid license for one year.
- Use your cell phone while driving. Virginia law strictly prohibits all drivers from using a “handheld personal communications device” while operating a motor vehicle. For a new teen driver, who is less experienced in operating a car, the risks are so great that best practices should be that the cell phone is completely out of sight, either kept in a bag or the glove compartment to avoid the mere temptation of becoming distracted.
DOs (for parents)
Parents needn’t feel helpless as soon as their child pulls out of the driveway. Be proactive in supervising their safety.
- Monitor: Consider installing a “dash camera” and/or other surveillance devices like a “teen driver app” on their phone to monitor your teen’s location, speed, braking habits, and other driving habits.
- Prepare: Consider adding Roadside Assistance coverage to your auto insurance policy for unforeseen problems like a dead car battery, flat tire, or towing assistance to keep your teen from being stranded with an inoperable vehicle.
- Talk about it. Foster an honest discussion about impaired driving and come up with a plan for what to do if your teen becomes impaired and cannot or should not drive home.
- Prep. Have your teen always carry a copy of his or her insurance card in the vehicle, as well as installing the insurance app to their phone for quick access to policy information.
- Educate: Have your teen study for the Virginia Driver’s Test using online tools provided by the Virginia DMV. Teach your teen how to change a tire in the event of an emergency.
- Stock up. Keep jumper cables and a first aid kit in the vehicle your teen will be driving.
- Sign the dotted line. Because driving is a privilege and not a right, consider a “teen driving contract” between you and your child, outlining your expectations as well as the potential consequences for breaking the rules.
- Set an example! Modeling good driving habits by obeying the speed limit, staying off your cell phone, fastening your seatbelt, and following the “rules of the road” will go a long way in showing your teen driver what safe driving looks like.
When your teenager is ready to start driving, it will likely be a stressful time. Do what you can to keep your children and the rest of those sharing the road with them safe by taking the time to prepare them (and yourself!) for the privilege of driving.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident through no fault of their own, know that no one needs to endure the process alone. The experienced and compassionate attorneys at Allen & Allen have over a century of experience protecting the injured. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call Allen & Allen today, at 866-388-1307.
