Idaho teens get a new driving law
- posted: 03 July 2007
- scrollnews@byui.edu
Effective July 1, the state of Idaho has a new law restricting drivers under age 17.
“The law limits the number of passengers to one, unless the passengers are related to the driver. This restriction is in effect for six months after the license is issued,” according to an Idaho Transportation Department news release.
The period of supervised driving required before taking a driving test has also been increased from four months to six. This will give new Idaho drivers more time to complete the 50 supervised hours already required by law.
“Although teen drivers ages 15 to 17 represent just 3 percent of all licensed Idaho drivers, they accounted for 8.6 percent of all fatal and injury crashes in 2006,” said Margaret Goertz, a highway safety specialist from the Idaho Transportation Department.
Idaho is not the first state to adjust existing legislation for new teenage drivers.
“All 50 states have enacted laws to give a novice driver more time behind the wheel to gain confidence, skill and judgment. [It] is another step for Idaho to protect its young drivers,” Goertz said. 
