Graduated licensing eases beginning drivers into the traffic environment under controlled exposure to progressively more difficult driving experiences. This helps improve their driving skills and helps them acquire on-the-road experience under less risky conditions by progressing or graduating through driver licensing stages before unrestricted licensure. The system consists of three licensing stages, names by the type of license possessed at each stage: Learner's Permit, Intermediate or Provisional License, Full or Unrestricted License.
There are several states that have a three-tiered system with some components of a graduated licensing system. But, within the majority of states, the learner's permit period, if required, has minimal requirements and restrictions and a full unrestricted license can be acquired at a young age with minimal behind-the-wheel experience.
As the student driver progresses through each stage, his or her driving patterns become less restricted. The restrictions imposed during the first two stages compensate for the driver's lack of experience. Once the driver has accumulated a significant amount of safe driving experience under controlled conditions, he or she "graduates" to the next stage.
For additional information contact Karen Morton, AAMVA.
NHTSA Publishes Graduated Driver Licensing Incentive Grant Program NPRM
On October 5, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding a state Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Incentive Grant Program [Docket Number NHTSA-2012-0137]. While the notice seeks public comment on the minimum qualification criteria for the State GDL grant program authorized under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21); AAMVA urges its member jurisdictions to begin discussions on how this incentive grant program can be leveraged to improve state GDL programs. It's important to note that changes jurisdictions make to their GDL programs now, can equate to qualifying for grant funding to further improve their GDL programs at a later date.