Graduated licensing eases beginning drivers into the traffic environment under controlled exposure to progressively more difficult driving experiences. This helps improve their driving skills and helps them acquire on-the-road experience under less risky conditions by progressing or graduating through driver licensing stages before unrestricted licensure. The system consists of three licensing stages which are named by the type of license possessed at each stage: learner's permit, intermediate or provisional license, full or unrestricted license.  

There are several states that have a three-tiered system with some components of a graduated licensing system. Within the majority of states, the learner's permit period, if required, has minimal requirements and restrictions and a full unrestricted license can be acquired at a young age with minimal behind-the-wheel experience.

As the student driver progresses through each stage, his or her driving patterns become less restricted. The restrictions imposed during the first two stages compensate for the driver's lack of experience. Once the driver has accumulated a significant amount of safe driving experience under controlled conditions, they "graduate" to the next stage.

AAMVA and NHTSA along with key graduated driver licensing stakeholders developed the Graduated Driver License Best Practices document to help identify, promote and implement GDL measures to decrease teenage motor vehicle crashes.  

Highlighted resource:

• Graduated Driver License Best Practices (September 2009)

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