Indiana Restricts Cell Phones for Teen Drivers and Creates Graduated Drivers License
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Indiana's new teen driver law went into effect July 1. The law provides for a new Graduated Drivers License (GDL). Drivers under the age of 18 will be considered probationary drivers.
Since young drivers are at greater risk for becoming involved in traffic crashes that result in severe injury and death, specific restrictions have been put into place to help teens safely travel Indiana’s roadways.
If you are 16 or 17 years old when you get your driver's license, your license is considered probationary until you turn 18 years old. You may amend your license after you turn 18 years old to remove the probationary driver designation from your license. However, once a driver turns 18 years old, the probationary driver restrictions will no longer apply to even if the designation is still indicated on the license.
Recent changes to state law affect probationary drivers who get an Indiana driver’s license on or after July 1, 2009. Drivers who get an Indiana driver’s license on or before June 30, 2009, are not affected by the following changes in state law.
No matter what type of license you have, every passenger in the vehicle that you are driving must wear a seat belt - even if that vehicle is a truck or SUV.
Drivers who get an Indiana driver's license on or after July 1, 2009, will have the following restrictions:
Telecommunication devices
Drivers under the age of 18 may not use any type of telecommunication device while driving except to make emergency 911 calls.
When you may drive
Drivers under the age of 18 may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for 180 days after
getting their license.
After the first 180 days, you may not drive during the following hours:
- Sunday through Thursday, 11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
- Friday and Saturday, 1 a.m. - 5 a.m.
Drivers under the age of 18 may drive at any time if traveling to or from work, school, or
religious event, or if you are accompanied by an individual with a valid Indiana driver's
license who is 25 years or older.
Driving with passengers
If you get a probationary driver's license on or after July 1, 2009, you may not drive with
passengers for the first 180 days after obtaining your license, unless you are also
accompanied by a licensed instructor, an individual with a valid Indiana driver's license
who is 25 years or older, or a parent, guardian, or step-parent who is 21 years or
older. You may drive with your child, sibling, or spouse during the hours allowed by law.
Court diversion programs
If you get a probationary driver's license on or after July 1, 2009, you will not qualify for
court diversion programs.
I believe this is a good move to try to reduce teenage automobile accidents. I encourage Kentucky to enact a smiilar law. I would go even further and restrict cell phone usage for all drivers, not just teenage drivers.