Why do we have a GDL Law?
1. Motor Vehicle Crashes are the Number 1 Killer of people ages 16-24… You!
2. Crashes are not “accidents” because they are most often completely avoidable
3. Caused by lack of experience or awareness4. GDL Laws are the only scientifically proven
method to reduce teen motor vehicle fatalities
5. GDL - Allows you to gain experience gradually before allowing unrestricted driving
How does the GDL Law work?1. Three Stages:
Junior Permit – “Learning” License Junior License – “Training” License Adult License – “Practice” License
2. All regular License Restrictions apply: No portable electronic devices (texting) No hand held cell phones
Junior Permit (Upstate)
1. Eligible at 16 years of age2. Pass written and vision tests3. Only drive while accompanied by a
supervising driver Parent or Guardian Driver Education Teacher or Driving
School Instructor Someone over 21 with a valid license
May only have one passenger
4. Between 9pm and 5am may only drive with Parent or Guardian
Junior Permit (New York City)1. Must drive only under the direct supervision of
your: Parent Guardian Person “in loco parentis” Driver Education Teacher Driving School Instructor
May only have one passenger
The person above must be at least age 21 and have a valid license for the vehicle being driven.
Vehicle must have dual controls (dual brakes).Between the hours of 9pm and 5am you must not
drive.
Junior Permit (Long Island)
1. You must drive only under the immediate supervision of:
Your Parent Your Guardian Your person “in loco parentis” Driver Education Teacher Driving School Instructor
May only have one passenger
The person above must be at least age 21 and have a license valid for the vehicle being driven.
Between the hours of 9pm and 5am you must not drive.
Take Your Road Test
1. Must maintain valid Junior Permit status for six months
2. Parents or Guardian must certify 50 hours of supervised driving time, 15 of which are after sunset
3. Complete 5 hour Pre-Licensing and/or Driver Education Course
4. Present relevant forms to DMV License Examiner
Junior License (Class DJ)- Upstate1. Must have passed your road test2. Allowed to drive unsupervised3. Only between 5am and 9pm4. With no more than ONE non-family
passenger under age 215. Everyone in vehicle must wear a
seatbelt
Junior License (Class DJ) - NYC
A Junior License (Class DJ) must not drive under any circumstances in the five boroughs of New York City
Junior License (Class DJ)- Long Island1. You may drive unsupervised only directly between
your home and: Employment; A work-study program; A course at a college, university, or registered evening
high school; A driver education course; or While engaged in farm employment.
Only one non-family passenger allowed under age 21You may drive in situations other than mentioned above only
when accompanied by your licensed parent, guardian, person “in loco parentis,” driver education teacher, or driving school instructor.
Between the hours of 9pm and 5am you may drive alone only directly between your home and a work-study program, a course at a college, university, or registered evening high school, a driver education course, or while engaged in farm employment.
Adult License (Class D)- All Regions1. Automatically received on 18th birthday2. Eligible at 17 years old with a valid MV-
285 Course Completion Certificate3. No restrictions on your license4. This is not the “END”
Going forward…
1. GDL Laws are not a punishment, they are to there to keep you safe
2. Talk to your parents about learning to drive, ask them to drive with you
3. Better decisions leads to more privileges and responsibility
4. A drivers license is a privilege not a right, respect that privilege or you will lose it
A little lesson about distractions: The only Laws you can’t break are the Laws of
Physics For every 1 mile per hour, a car travels 1.47 feet
per second At 40 mph you will travel nearly 59 feet in one
second! Two seconds = 118 feet (time it takes to glance at
the radio) The average response time for an adult is 1.5
seconds This would bring your total distance traveled to
206.5 feet before you could step on the brake pedal or take evasive action, and that’s only 40 MPH
206.5 Feet is:
13 Toyota Camry’s 25 Mini coopers Three 18-Wheelers Just short of one 747 70 yards on a football field