Personal Injury Law Blog
Tips for Parents and Their Young Drivers
Illinois has a unique Graduated Driver Licensing Program (GDL) designed to allow teen drivers to gain experience and prove that they are good drivers before being allowed more privileges and fewer restrictions.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death for young adults ages 15-20, and approximately 20 percent of all 16-year-olds with a driver’s license are involved in a crash. The death rate is approximately three to five times that of older, more experienced drivers ages 30 and older, with the primary contributing crash factors being a higher tendency to take risks and a lack of experience. To improve these deadly statistics, the comprehensive GDL program was put into place and has made a noteworthy difference.
Since the GDL program was implemented a decade ago, the Illinois teen driver fatality rate has dropped over 50 percent. The Illinois three-tier graduated driver licensing program is a national model for other states, and the State does not increase the minimum age at which a teen may get a license.
If a 16-year-old teen completes the approved Driver Education Program and the Instruction Permit Phase, they can procure a driver’s license. If the teen is between 18 and 20 and does not take an approved Driver’s Ed course, they must complete a six-hour Adult Driver Education Course before they are eligible for a driver’s license.
Thanks to the Illinois GDL Parent-Teen Driving Guide, families can test how well they understand the program by answering questions printed in the booklet. To read more about the questions and the program in general, visit HERE.
Contact a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Chicago car accident attorney Paul Greenberg is encouraged by the National Safety Council (NSC) DriveItHOME campaign that takes aim at reducing the number of teens injured or killed in car accidents. “Fortunately, with this program, and other ongoing efforts to teach teen driving safety, parents have a good chance of helping their teen to be safe behind the wheel,” Greenberg stated.
If a teen family member has been involved in a car accident, reach out to the experienced teen car accident attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg.
