Parents Assisting Inexperienced Drivers - Open Letter & statistics

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READY FOR THE ROAD
Earning a driver's license under
The Graduated Licensing System

The Graduated Driver License law becomes effective January 1, 2001. Anyone who is under 16 years of age as of January 1, 2001 will be subject to GDL requirements when they apply for a special learners permit. Anyone who is 17 years of age or older as of January 1, 2001 will be subject to GDL requirements when they apply for an examination permit , including individuals under the age of 18 transferring a valid out of state license. Anyone who is 16 years of age prior to January 1, 2001 and has not reached the age of 17 by that date, will be exempt from the requirements of the GDL law. Provisions of the law will be implemented in stages. The safety related provisions will be implemented on January 1, 2001 and the violation monitoring and sanctioning will be introduced to the program in July 2002. In the interim the current Probationary Driver Program (PDP) will continue until the Remedial Training Course is in place. The Graduated Drivers License Program has two roads to the issuance of the basic drivers license. One is by way of the Special Learners Permit and the other by the way of the Examination Permit. The Special Learners Permit has a three-step process where as the Examination Permit has a two-step process.

STEP 1 - SPECIAL LEARNER'S PERMIT (STUDENT PERMIT)

Pass a vision and 50-question law-knowledge test. (Law-knowledge test increased from 30 questions) (Increased questions do not apply until July 2002)**
Meet minimum age of 16 but less than 17. • Payment of permit fee $10. (Current fee is $5)
Schools continue to have discretion to provide classroom driver education prior to permit.
Permit can be validated for practice driving only after completing a behind-the-wheeldriving course conducted by an approved commercial or secondary school driver education program.
Signature of parent/guardian is required if under 18. The signature will also attest to the fact that they have received a copy of the parent handbook.
All driving must be supervised by a New Jersey licensed driver at least 21 years of age with a minimum of three years licensed experience, for the same class vehicle, who must be in the front passenger seat.
May not drive from 11:01 p.m. to 5 a.m. except with a written waiver from employer or religious authority.
Passengers are limited to one person plus any persons sharing residence (in addition to the supervising driver).
Everyone in the vehicle must wear safety belts.
A permit suspension for 90 days and a remedial course of at least four hours will result (in addition to other existing penalties) if the student accumulates more than two moving violation points or is convicted of any other significant motor vehicle offenses, such as drunk driving. (Does not apply until July 2002)**
Any additional points or significant offenses after the remedial course will result in a 90-day postponement of eligibility for the basic driver license. (Does not apply until July 2002)**
Permit suspended for six months for conviction of any alcohol or drug-related offense unrelated to operation of motor vehicle (if not already subject to another suspension penalty). (Does not apply until July 2002)**
$ 100 fine for violation of any of the conditions of the permit. *

STEP 2 - PROVISIONAL NON-PHOTO LICENSE*

Meet minimum age of 17 and successfully complete student leamer permit stage with a minimum of six months supervised driving experience.
Pass road test under actual, but low-risk, road conditions wherever practical and feasible, An off-road screening process may precede road test.
May not drive from 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. except with a written waiver from employer or religious authority. If at least 21 years of age hour restrictions do not apply.
Passengers limited to one person, plus any persons sharing the same residence unless provisional licensee or a passenger is 21 or over.
Supervising driver not required.
Everyone in the vehicle must wear safety belts.
A minimum 4 hour remedial course is required (in addition to existing penalties) for more than two motor vehicle points or conviction of any significant motor vehicle related violations during the provisional license suspension of three months and postponement of basic (unrestricted) license eligibility for a comparable period (in addition to existing penalties). (Does not apply until July 2002)**
Suspension of six months for conviction of any alcohol or drug-related offense unrelated to the operation of a motor vehicle (if not already subject to another suspension penalty). (Does not apply until July 2002)**
$ 100 fine for violations of any of the other conditions of provisional license.*

STEP 3 - BASIC (Unrestricted) PHOTO LICENSE

Meet all requirements of the examination permit.
Pass road test under actual, but low-risk, road conditions wherever practical and feasible. An off-road screening process may precede road test.*
Have a minimum of one-year driving experience with a valid examination permit (excluding any period of suspension or license postponement) (license postponement does not apply until July 2002)**
Not have been assessed more than two motor vehicle points or convicted of any significant motor vehicle offenses in the previous year. (Does not apply until July 2002)**

EXAMINATION PERMIT - THE ALTERNATIVE TWO-STEP ROUTE*
STEP 1 - EXAMINATION PERMIT

Meet minimum age of 17.
Pay a fee of $10. (Current fee $5)
Pass a vision and 50-questions law-knowledge test. (Law-knowledge test increased from 30 questions) (Increased questions do not apply until July 2002)**
Signature of parent/guardian is required if under 18. The signature will also attest to the fact that they have received a copy of the parent handbook.
Behind-the-wheel or driver education classroom course is not required.
Everyone in the vehicle must wear safety belts.
May not drive from 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. except with a written waiver from employer or religious authority. (Restrictions do not apply if 21 or older).
Must have a supervising driver in the front seat for the first six months if under 21 years of age and for three months if 21 or older who is at least 21 years of age with a minimum of three years driving experience.
Continue to drive for the remaining six or nine months unsupervised for a total of one year. Passengers limited to one person plus and persons sharing residence except if permit holder or another passenger is 21 or older.
Permit suspended for 90 days and must attend a 4-hour remedial course for accumulating more than two motor vehicle points or for any conviction of a significant motor vehicle offense, such as drunk driving. (This is in addition to existing penalties) (Does not apply until July 2002)**
Any additional points or any significant motor vehicle violations after the remedial course will result in a 90-day postponement of eligibility for basic license) (Does not apply until July 2002)**
Permit suspended for six months for conviction of any alcohol or drug-related offense unrelated to operation of motor vehicle (if not already subject to another suspension penalty). (Does not apply until July 2002)**
Fine of $ 100 for violation of other conditions of the permit.**

STEP 2 - BASIC (Unrestricted) PHOTO LICENSE

Meet minimum age of 18.
Meet all requirements of the examination permit.
Pass road test under actual, but low-risk, road conditions wherever practical and feasible. An off-road screening process may precede road test.*
Have a minimum of one-year driving experience with a valid examination permit (excluding any period of suspension or license postponement) (license postponement does not apply until July 2002)**
Not have been assessed more than two motor vehicle points or convicted of any significant motor vehicle offenses in the previous year. (Does not apply until July 2002)**

SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

Creation of State Advisory Committee on Driver Education.* Adoption of new statewide curriculum guidelines for classroom driver education courses. * Individuals that turn 16 prior to January 1, 2001 may still apply for a Special Learner's permit on or after January 1, 2001 and will not be subject to the Graduated License law, provided they have not attained the age of 17.* The GDL law does not include agricultural permit or motorcycle permit holders.*

* Subject to legislative change.** Subject to implementation date change.