Making sure our young drivers have the confidence and experience to get behind the wheel is essential for safety on the roads. This goal sometimes requires changes to Georgia’s teenage driving laws.
Georgia’s state House committee has approved a bill to change teen driving laws. Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC is here to explain the proposed changes and what this could mean for your teen driver.
Current Young and Teen Driver Laws in Georgia
The current Georgia teenage driving laws include restrictions under Joshua’s Law, a Senate bill passed in 2005. It outlines requirements for Georgia’s 16 and 17 years old drivers. For them to get a Class D Provisional Driver’s License, they must:
- Have an instructional permit for at least one year and one day
- Complete an approved driver education course
- Complete at least 40 hours of supervised driving
It also allows only immediate family members to be passengers in the car with a driver under 18 for the first six months. However, this may soon change if the proposed bill is passed.
Proposed Changes for GA Teenage Driving Laws in 2022
A change to Georgia’s current teenage driving laws has been proposed. If Senate Bill 510 is passed, teenage drivers will be able to drive with one person who isn’t a family member in the vehicle.
Now that it has been approved by the Georgia senate and state House committee, it will go before the Rules Committee. They will decide whether the full House gets to vote on it.
How the New Law Would Impact the Safety of Georgia Roads
There are a few differing opinions on whether the law’s impact on the safety of Georgia roads would be positive or negative. Some positive effects discussed include the following:
- Removing the strict rule for immediate family members will give families and their teen drivers more flexibility.
- It would allow teen drivers to have a more experienced driver in the car with them more often.
- Parents can make their own decisions on rules for their teen driver’s safety.
However, some negative differences others believe the bill would bring are:
- Having friends in the car can distract an inexperienced driver, which could lead to more car accidents.
- Their young friends may give incorrect advice to the teen driver.
- Young friends sometimes influence each other to make risky decisions.
- Teen drivers may feel a need to show off in front of their friends, leading to unsafe driving.
As teen drivers are already the victim of far too many vehicle collisions, parents are worried about how this will affect their teen drivers. This can be an opportunity to discuss with your driver safe driving practices and how to stay focused with passengers in the car.
Contact an experienced car accident lawyer today
For more information about changes to Georgia’s teenage driving laws and how they affect your teen driver, contact one of our experienced car accident lawyers today.
