Florida Teens and Parents Confused by the State's Learners Permits

Many teens who read the back of their Florida learners permit are confused. The Florida Drivers Handbook states that to drive with a learner permit you must have a licensed driver 21 or older in the closest seat right of driver.

The language on the back of a Florida learners permit seems to contradict that.

The first two lines are clear enough:

"Daylight driving only, after three months may drive until 10 p.m. with 21 year or older licensed driver in closest seat right of driver. No motorcycle or moped operation."

Here the Confusing Language (caution: your eyes may glaze over)

"Under 18 years of age: 16 years - No 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. driving unless with 21 year or older licensed driver or coming to and from work. 17 years - No 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. driving unless with 21 year or older licensed driver or driving to and from work."

Many teens read this and assume that when they turn 16 they can drive alone with their learner permit to and from work as long as it's not between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. . And once they turn 17, then can drive to work alone as long as it's not between 1a.m .and 5 a.m.

Confused or Looking for an Excuse
The Florida Drivers Association, a Florida DMV Approved Traffic School, gets emails and phone calls every month from teens asking if they can drive alone to work. The answer is NO. You can Never Drive Alone with a Florida Learners Permit.

Florida Learner Permit Restrictions
The confusing aspect is that the restrictions apply to both teens who posses a learners permit and those who have an operator's license. According to Sgt. Brian Bergen with Martin County Sheriff's Traffic Division, here's how it works:

Drivers with a learners permit (learner license class E) are only allowed to:
Drive during daylight hours during the first three (3) months
After 3 months, a learners permit driver can drive until 10 p.m.
Always drive under the supervision of a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat

For teens age 16 or 17 with a Florida Drivers License class E:
16-year-olds driving between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. must be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat. They can only drive alone if they can prove they are driving to or from work during these hours.

17-year-olds driving between the hours of 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. must be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older in the front passenger seat. They can only drive alone if they can prove they are driving to or from work during these hours.

Florida Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) System
To understand the restrictions, you must be familiar with the Florida Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system , a law adopted by the state of Florida in 1996.

The three-phase system was designed to gradually give minors driving privileges. The reason for the restrictions, says Frank Penelas, Public Information Officer with the Florida of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, "To prevent fatal car accidents, the leading cause of death among teens. Studies show that those times are when most accidents happen to drivers of that age."

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety summarizes the three (3) stages to a graduated driver license as:
1. A supervised learner's period
2. An intermediate license (after passing the driver test) that limits driving in high-risk situations except under supervision; and
3. Then a license with full privileges, available after completing the first two stages.

Learner Permit Violations
Florida law enforcement officers are working to ensure the restrictions are followed.

According to Sandra C. Lambert, director of the Florida Division of Driver Licenses, a minor caught driving alone with a permit will be cited for Violation of Restriction. In 2006, she said, 24,473 citations were issued to teens for violation of learners permit restrictions.

"We believe the graduated licensing program is helping to ensure that young people get the training and experience needed to be good drivers and reduce the amount of teen deaths" said Lambert.

In Martin County, Florida, Sgt. Brian Bergen with the Sheriffs Traffic Division stated that "if a teen violates a learner permit or drivers license restriction, the teen receives a moving violation traffic ticket, $117 fine, and three (3) points on their learners permit or drivers license. "

How Teens Lose their Learners Permits
"Under the age of 18, teens are only allowed 5 points on their learners permit or drivers license. Once they reach 6 points, a learner permit or a full drivers license will be taken away until they reach the age of 18 years" stated Sgt. Bergen.

According to the Martin County Clerk of Court office, teens are eligible to take a Florida DMV approved traffic school to avoid these points added to their learners permit or full driver license. Florida traffic school is only allowed to be taken once in a 12 month period.

Parents and Car Owners Beware
If you allow a driver with a learners permit to drive your car alone or without a licensed driver age 21 or older in the front passenger seat, it's a criminal infraction and you can go to jail for up to 60 days, according to Sgt. Bergen.

It doesn't matter if you are an adult or teen that owns a car, you cannot allow a learners permit driver to drive your car alone, ever. Learners permit drivers have restrictions for a reason.

Learner Permit Courses Reduce Driving Deaths
Combined with Florida DMV required courses, such as DATA (Drugs Alcohol Traffic Awareness), which teaches that drugs, alcohol and even mood can affect a driver's ability to react in difficult situations, the GDL system also requires young drivers to complete several hours of supervised driving before gaining full driving privileges.

Recent studies show this approach has reduced teen driving deaths.

In 2005, according to data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,460 drivers ages 15 to 20 were involved in fatal crashes nationwide, a 7 percent decrease from 1995.

For their safety, Florida teen drivers are required to hold a learners permit for 12 months. Letting them drive alone before they have that experience is dangerous for them and everyone else on the road.