Learner's permit
A driver's permit, learner's permit, learner's licence (New Zealand, Republic of Ireland) or provisional licence (British English) is a restricted license that is given to a person who is learning to drive but has not yet satisfied the requirements necessary to obtain a driver's license. Having a driver's permit for a certain length of time is usually one of the requirements (along with driver's education and a road test) for applying for a full driver's license. To get a driver's permit, one must typically pass a written test about rules of the road, although the process varies between jurisdictions.
Typical rules
Generally, a learner's permit allows the holder to operate a motor vehicle in the presence and supervision of a licensed driver. Some jurisdictions even requires the learner to be supervised by an approved driving instructor. While the requirements vary in each jurisdiction, most have a minimum age requirement and/or a minimum number of years of driving experience that the supervisor must have.
In addition, many jurisdictions have other guidelines that a holder of a driver's permit must follow while driving. These may include:
- The learner driver must be accompanied by a fully licensed driver/instructor, depending the requirement of the jurisdication. Learners cannot drive alone.
- Unless accompanied by a legal guardian, drivers can only have one other person in the vehicle.
- Safety belts must be worn at all times, even when otherwise not required in the jurisdiction
- Some jurisdictions prohibit any additional passengers besides the one supervising the driver to be riding in the vehicle used for practice with punishments ranging from a 50 dollar fine to a 6 month jail term[dubious – discuss]. Others allow additional passengers with certain restrictions, which may include their age, their relationship to the practicing driver, or the amount of driving experience they have.
- Some jurisdictions require a special tag to be posted on the vehicle being used for practice in order to warn other motorists that the practicing driver may be prone to error.
- Some jurisdictions force motorists who have violated any law with a learner's permit to drive with a warning label or sticker.
Age requirements
Canada
In Canada, the minimum age varies from province to province and may be 14 or 16. In Ontario, a G1 License is issued to new drivers at the age of 16 after completing a written test. G1 license restrictions include:
- A person with four years' experience must sit in the seat adjacent the new driver
- All passengers must wear seat belts
- The learner must not drive on major highways
- The learner must not drive between the hours of 12AM and 5AM
- The learner must have a blood alcohol count of 0
After a period of one year (bracketed material removed because it is false.) the learner may upgrade their G1 to a G2 license by taking a road test. The G2 license has fewer restrictions, but still requires seat belts and a BAC of 0. A G2 license does not have time or road restrictions, and the learner is free to drive alone. After one year with a G2, the learner may upgrade to their full G class license by taking another road test, which has a major highway component. A similar program is in effect for motorcycles, the M class license.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong any person aged 18 or above can apply for a Learner's Driving Licence for private cars, light goods vehicle and motorcycles. For other types of vehicle the age required is 21 and the applicant must have a valid private car or light goods vehicle driving license for 3 years. Unlike other jurisdictions, a learner must be supervised by an approved driving instructor instead of an ordinary fully licensed driver (except motorcycles, which learners can drive on their own, but motorcycle learners must pass a motorcycle course from an approved driving school before they can learn to drive on road). L-plate is also required when the learner is practising.
Jamaica
In Jamaica any person 17 years or over may apply for a Provisional (Learners) License.
New Zealand
In New Zealand any person 15 years or over can sit a learner's licensing test, which is a theory multiple choice test on road rules [1]. Once they have passed this, they may drive with an adult who has had their full license for at least two years. They must display L plates at all times when driving. You may drive up to the speed of 100 kph in allowed areas . After at least 6 months have passed, they take a road test in order to receive their restricted license. On a restricted license, the learner may only drive between 5am and 10pm, with no passengers other than their dependent children, spouse, or persons holding a full license for more than 2 years. Learners who sit the practical test in an automatic car are only legally allowed to drive an automatic while restricted. People can also sit a full license road test after 18 months or a year if they have undertaken a defensive driving course. In March 2010 the New Zealand Government announced changes to licence regulations which included raising the minimum age for a learner's licence to 16.[1]
Sweden
In Sweden, the minimum age is 16 to get a basic car learner's permit; 17 years and six months are required for more advanced vehicle combinations [2].
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the minimum age at which a provisional licence is valid is 17 (16 for driving a tractor, riding a scooter, or those receiving Disability Mobility Allowance). But the period of learning may be increased soon, making it almost impossible to receive a full driving licence before they are 18.[2] When driving under a provisional license, the learner must be accompanied by a driver holding a full driving license who is over the age of 21 and has held a full driver's license for a minimum of three years. The vehicle being driven by the learner must also be fitted with L-plates on both the back and front of the vehicle. This tells other road users that the vehicle is being operated by a driver without their full license and that they may make mistakes easily and that the driver may not be fully competent yet. The L-plate consists of a white square plate (often tied to the vehicle or attached by magnets) with a large red L in the middle. When the learner has passed, they can get a non-compulsory 'P' plate, which shows that they have just passed their test, and so may not have much experience on the road. The P plate has a white background, with a green 'P'. In Northern Ireland for one year after the passing of a driving test, the driver is defined as a "restricted driver" who must not exceed 45 mph and must display an "R-plate" consisting of an amber sans-serif R on a white background
United States
In the United States, the minimum age at which a person can receive a learner's permit varies by state, ranging from fourteen to sixteen. Usually, with a driver's permit, the person may only drive with a person who is at least twenty.
Learners who are minors must have permission from a parent or guardian, and usually must have had the learner's permit for six months before being able to obtain a driver's license.
A written knowledge test is required in many states. A permit is obtained by showing proof of age and identity and proof of enrollment in a driver's education class.
An adult learner need only have the driver's permit for a few weeks before being able to get a driver's license.
The United States has the youngest driving age in the world. Although New Zealand allows people to drive alone at 15 1/2, 7 of the 50 states allow people to drive alone at 15 1/2 or as early as 14 1/2 in North and South Dakota.
Age to get permit varies per state. Here are the ages in each state where it is allowed to be achieved.
14 years:
Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota
14 years, 3 months
14 years, 6 months
14 years, 8 months
15 years
Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia
15 years, 6 months
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Wisconsin
15 years, 9 months
16 years
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island
Learner's permits do not exist in New Hampshire. Teenagers may drive with adult supervision after reaching 15 years, 6 months.
To obtain a restricted license, the driver must be the minimum age for testing and have had his or her permit for the required duration. A computerized knowledge test is first required. After that is passed, a 6 hrs drive test is given over a two day period. It consists of driving around a residential neighborhood. There are no hazard tests. If you fail the test, you must usually wait a week or two to retake it. Here is a list of the minimum ages in each state in which a restricted license (driver may drive alone, but with restrictions):
14 years, 3 months
14 years, 6 months
15 years
15 years, 6 months
Mississippi New Mexico, Virginia and South Carolina
16 years
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
16 years, 3 months
16 years, 6 months
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island
17 years
18 years
Here is the list of the ages in each state where a full license may be obtained (no restriction except for alcohol if under age 21). No additional driving test is required to obtain one. A full license is usually given after having a restricted license for six months to a year or reaching age 18, whichever is sooner.
No restricted license (driver automatically starts with full license after passing test)
Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota
16 years
Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, and Nebraska
16 years, 6 months
Georgia, Arkansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming
16 years, 9 months
17 years
California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia
17 years, 3 months
17 years, 6 months
17 years, 9 months
18 years
Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
See also
Reference
- ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3393819/Government-to-raise-driving-age
- ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article2204067.ece Driving age set to rise to cut youth death toll
External links
- Practice questions for the Victorian Learner Permit test - Australia
- Information for people wanting to obtain their Learner's permit in Victoria - Australia
- Practice questions for the New Zealand Learner License Theory Test - New Zealand
- Online California Driving Permit course for getting Teens Learner's Permit - United States