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There are certain rules and laws in California put in place to focus on the safety of drivers. You’ll learn these rules at Orange County driving school, so it’s important to listen in your classes. All drivers must follow these rules, but there are certain rules focused on just teenage drivers. Because they are inexperienced, these rules are to ensure safety not just of the teen driver, but of the other drivers on the road.
Here are the California Rules for Teenage Drivers.
If you’re under 18:
The laws for teens driving under the age of 18 are different from the laws for adults. Once you turn 18, these restrictions and laws no longer apply to you in the eyes of the state of California.
The First Years
During the first year of holding your license, your are considered inexperienced as a driver and will need to follow these two restrictions:
Time Restriction/Curfew
As an inexperienced driver, you cannot drive between 11pm and 5am. This is for the safety of everyone on the road because tired driving can lead to accidents, so it’s important that you know how to be safe. Driving at night can also carry problems of its own with low vision.
Passenger Restriction
During your first year of driving, you cannot carry passengers who are younger than 20. This is because teens tend to be less safe than adults in vehicles. They may not have had their driving lessons yet and may not understand or care about the safety aspects and responsibility that comes along with driving.
The Exceptions
There are exceptions to these rules that can help you prevent legal issues and improve safety. If you are accompanied by a California licensed driver who is at least 25, you can drive after curfew and with passengers under 20.
Driving After Curfew
You can also drive after curfew without a licensed adult if you have the following signed documentation:
- For traveling to or from a school-related activity.
- Driving between the curfew hours is required for work.
- You have no alternative transportation options available and have a medical reason for driving past curfew.
Avoiding Penalties
In order to avoid penalties, you should never violate these teen driving laws. Here are the penalties you’d face for violations:
Restricted License for 30 days if you receive two points for violations within a year.
Suspended License if you receive more than three points on your license. You can also receive a year of probation.
Other Laws to Follow
While you need to follow those laws, California also has laws in place for teen drivers to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.
Electronic Devices: The use of electronic devices is illegal for teens, even if these devices are hands-free.
Zero Tolerance: As a zero-tolerance state, California law states that if an underage driver has a BAC of .01% or higher, their license will be suspended for a full year.
As a teen driver, your freedom is important to you, so following these rules and laws will make sure you stay safe and keep your license. You don’t want to have paid and gone through extensive learning at yourdriving school in Orange County just to lose your license for not following simple rules.
Learn the rules for teenage drivers by starting a driver’s education course today.