Graduated Licensing

Graduated driver licensing is designed to provide new drivers of motor vehicles with driving experience and skills gradually over time, delaying full driving privileges until a certain level of experience has been attained.

The specifics of this system differ from state to state, but all consist of three steps:

Learning Period

Before taking the licensing test, young drivers must undergo a certain amount of practice driving under the supervision of an experienced licensed driver (usually a time period, typically 6 months, or a certain number of hours). Supervised drivers may normally include a parent, grandparent, guardian of the driver, or a responsible person approved by the driver's parent or guardian. A supervising driver must hold a valid driver license and must have been licensed for at least five years.

Restricted License

During this phase, drivers can drive without supervision, but with some restrictions. In some states, this period lasts until the driver is 18 years old. Restrictions include:

• Limitations on the number of passengers, or the number of passengers under 21 years of age
• Limitations on where passengers can sit in the car (for example, only the supervising driver and the driver are allowed in the front seat)
• Limitations on time of day that the driver can drive (for example, only between the hours of 5 am and 9pm)
• Proof of additional driving practice with an experienced driver
• Limitations on the types of vehicles that can be driven

Full License

Once the restricted phase is complete, the driver is issued a full-privilege license.

However, before graduating between levels, drivers must usually keep each type of license for at least 6 months (and additionally, sometimes until a particular age) and have no convictions of moving violations or seat belt infractions within the preceding six months.

There are usually very serious penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol if you have a restricted license. A conviction of such a violation will often result in a one-year license revocation.