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Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)

According to Saferoads4teens, since 1999, more than 84,400 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers, nationally.

Because of this, Iowa wants to change the current GDL law which includes:

• A three-stage licensing system beginning at age 14 for learner's permit, age 16 for the intermediate stage, and age 17 for full licensure
• A mandatory six month holding period for the learner's permit stage
• A minimum of 20 hours of supervised practice driving during the learner's permit stage, at least two of which must be at night
•  A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving between 12:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. during the intermediate stage

In April of 2010 the U.S. Senate introduced the STANDUP Act, which would require Iowa's current GDL laws to change to the following:

• Require drivers to be age 16 for entry into the learner's permit stage
• Extend restrictions on teen drivers through age 17
• Add a passenger restriction prohibiting more than one non-familial passenger under the age of 21 unless a licensed driver over the age of 21 is in the vehicle, for the entire intermediate stage through age 17
• Add a prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones and other communications devices, including texting while driving, during the learner's permit and intermediate stages

Several recent studies report that the most comprehensive GDL programs, including appropriate nighttime and passenger limitations, reduce young driver crashes by 20% to 40% (Journal of Safety Research, 2007).