New State Laws Aim to Improve Teen Driving Safety
A growing number of states are implementing stricter requirements for new drivers, but there remains a lack of consensus on the exact amount of practice needed before obtaining a license. While most states have some form of graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) laws, the number of supervised driving hours required varies widely. Some states require as few as 20 hours, while others mandate up to 70 hours.
According to Jonathan Adkins, CEO of the Governors Highway Safety Association, more states are considering adopting tougher mandates for young drivers. Florida, Washington, and New Jersey have recently updated their laws for new drivers, though these changes still differ in their specifics. Advocates argue that the U.S. would benefit from more uniform laws on this issue.
The Need for Consistency
Cheryl Giles, owner of Lakeland Atlantic Driving School in Winter Haven, Florida, emphasizes the need for consistency. Her school conducts about 1,000 student driving tests annually, and she believes a national law for teen drivers is essential. “We desperately need some consistency,” she said.
Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the leading causes of death for teens in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that teen drivers face a disproportionately higher risk of crashes compared to older drivers. Brett Robinson, CEO of the American Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association, calls the situation an epidemic and stresses the need for collective action.
Adkins noted that a recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association found that crash and fatality rates for drivers under 21 improved drastically between 2002 and 2021. However, there has been a slight increase in teen driver-related deaths in 2022 and 2023. “We’re not at a crisis point yet, but it is of concern,” he said.
Personal Tragedy Inspires Advocacy
Tammy Gweedo McGee, a safe teenage driving advocate from Hampton Roads, Virginia, has spent years pushing for safer laws after losing her son, Connor, in a 2019 car crash. He was a passenger in a vehicle driven by an unlicensed teen, which hit a tree and flipped over. McGee now runs a nonprofit foundation that educates new teenage drivers and their parents on the dangers of reckless driving. She also helped pass a Virginia law that allows criminal charges against those who knowingly allow someone without a license or permit to drive.
State-by-State Requirements
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) notes that many states require around 50 hours of supervised driving, with some requiring more. Pennsylvania requires 65 hours, while Maryland and North Carolina each require 60. Maine mandates 70 hours. In contrast, Iowa requires only 25 hours, and Kansas sets the minimum at 20. Arkansas and Mississippi have no supervised driving requirements.
Supervised hours are just one part of the equation. Other factors include driver education, age requirements, and who qualifies for a learner’s permit. Several states have updated their requirements in 2025:
- Florida now requires teens aged 15 and up to complete a six-hour driver’s education course before receiving a learner’s permit. They must also complete 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night.
- New Jersey enacted a 50-hour supervised driving law for drivers under 21, including 10 hours at night.
- Washington passed a law that will expand mandatory driver’s education to drivers up to age 21 by 2030, eventually mandating it for applicants up to age 25.
A Push for National Standards
Despite these efforts, safety advocates like McGee believe a national solution is needed. “Whether you’re in Virginia, Florida, Utah, or even in the most rural parts of the country, the roads can be very dangerous places,” she said.
However, Adkins argues that teen driving laws should remain under state authority. “It’s just not even on the table,” he said. Similarly, Robinson believes federal legislation is unlikely in the near future. “Federal legislation would be wonderful, but we’re certainly not going to see that in the next decade,” he said.
Encouraging Safer Practices
Experts like Megan Muhlbach, program coordinator for the Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition, believe these laws encourage important conversations between parents and teens about safe driving habits. “This helps teens develop critical skills that can reduce crash risks during their early years behind the wheel,” she said.
As more states consider stricter measures, the debate over how to best ensure teen safety on the roads continues. With varying approaches across the country, the push for a unified standard remains a key goal for many advocates.
