Teen Drivers Face Stricter Driving Laws

 Posted on June 29, 2018 in Traffic Offenses

Few things compare in a young person’s life to finally being able to drive a car onhis or her own.He or she hastaken driver’s training, driven the required amount of hours with an experienced driver, andcan nowdrive onhis or her own.However, with this freedom comes an added responsibility.

Since teen drivers are so new and inexperienced, they face stricter rules and regulations in an effort to keep the driver, and those around them, safe.

Cell Phone Use

In Illinois, a driver is not permitted to be onhis or her cell phone or other handheld device while driving.He or she can only make calls with a hands-free option. However, the rule is different for teen drivers. A driver under the age of 18 is not permitted to use a cell phone while driving at all, even ifthe deviceis hands-free. The only exception is in the event the driver needs to call 911 or otherwise contact emergency services or the police.

Passengers

A new driver is likely to be more susceptible to distractions while driving. The teen needs to keephis or her attention on the road so thathe or she can get valuable experience driving. Illinois has passenger limits for teen drivers. For the first year after obtaining a driver’s license, a driver under the age of 18 is only allowed to have one other young person in the vehicle with him or her. A young person includes anyone under the age of 20.

In addition to limiting the number of passengers permitting in the vehicle, seat belts are enforced for every person in the vehicle. Illinois law requires all drivers to wear a seat belt while driving. However, teen drivers must also ensure that their passengers under the age of 18 wear seatbelts.

Driving Curfew

Teen drivers are not allowed to drive at all times throughout the day. On Friday and Saturday nights, drivers under the age of 18 are not permitted to drive between the hours of 11p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning. During the week, the curfew is 10p.m. to 6a.m. There are many exceptions to this curfew. Driving with a parent or guardian, driving to or from school, driving to or from work, driving in the event of an emergency, and driving for religious purposes are just some of the reasons teens can drive after curfew.

Let Us Help You Today

Teen driving laws are slightly different than adult laws. If your teen has received a traffic violation, The Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley can help. Dedicated Rolling Meadows traffic ticket attorney Christopher Cosley knows that young drivers can sometimes make mistakes. Our team works hard so that one mistake does not follow your child everywhere.

Sources:

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/traffic_safety/safetybelts.html

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/teen_driver_safety/gdl.html