Graduated Licensing
...equired, its minimum holding period either is not specified or is short, typically thirty days. "In a graduated system, an extended learner's period lasts up to six months to provide the opportunity for extensive supervised on-road driving in a variety of conditions" (Preusser). Research shows that supervised driving is a relatively safe activity. Second, Intermediate Stage: The highest risk for beginning drivers occurs when they first get their licenses and can drive without supervision, with the first few months being particularly risky. "Key features of graduated licensing include establishing an appropriate minimum age for unsupervised driving and initially restricting some kinds of unsupervised driving" (Williams). "Some laws do impose a stage after the learner's period during this time beginners are subject to harder penalties on an accelerated schedule; but this is not the same as the intermediate stage under graduated licensing, which restricts when and where beginners are allowed to drive" (Virgil). The goal is to keep initial license holders out of high-risk situations as they continue to accumulate driving experience. One question a person will regularly encounter is, what about passengers? "Research shows that unsupervised driving with teenage passengers increases crash risk compared with driving alone; the more passengers the greater the risk" (Williams). The presence of teenage passengers increases crash risk both day and night, so night driving restrictions alone do not adequately address this problem. What about penalties? Graduated licensing systems are largely self-enforcing, with parents playing a major role. "All laws penalize drivers in graduated licensing systems who do not agree with driving restrictions or who are involved in traffic violations or at-fault crashes."(Virgil) Almost all laws delay or prohibit graduation from the system if there is proof of a poor driving record. "In Nova Scotia, for example, sufficient violations incurred during the two-year intermediate sta...