Graduated Driver License Improvements

Since implementation in 1999, Iowa’s Graduated Driver License has resulted in significant reductions in teen fatalities, injuries and citations. The following are recommended enhancements:

• Decrease from one passenger per seat belt to one passenger other than members of immediate family or adults age 21 or older
• Expand nighttime driving restriction from 12:30 AM—5 AM to 11 PM—5AM
• Increase supervised driving hours from 30 to 50 hours (30 instruction permit stage plus 20 intermediate license stage
• Prohibit wireless/cell phone use for intermediate licensees while driving, except for communication with law enforcement, fire protection, emergency services
• Extend seat belt law to require front and backseat passengers under the age of 18
  

Alcohol Use

• Require identification number affixed to a 2+ gallon keg and recording of purchaser’s social security/driver’s license and selling employee
• Expand criminal offense providing to a minor to include “knowingly permitting consumption or possession”
• Extend civil liability for damages resulting from intoxication of underage drinker to any person knowingly and deliberately making alcohol available to underage drinkers

Education and Parental Involvement

• Establish a statewide curriculum to ensure quality and consistency for driver education
• Require parent education/orientation component to the driver education curriculum
• Require a log to track supervised driving hours
• Provide public education on traffic safety and GDL system through public service announcements and education campaigns

Other

• Require intermediate licensees to display in plain sight, in or on their vehicle, a decal or placard readily identifiable by law enforcement
• Increase from age 14 to 15 the minor school license allowing students to drive to and from school, also displaying decal or placard identifiable by law enforcement