Missouri Gov.. Mel Carnahan has signed into law a measure that will give young drivers more "behind the wheel" experience before getting a full license. In an effort to reduce the horrendous crash rate among Missouri teen drivers, the Missouri General Assembly passed a new Graduated Driver Licensing system (GDL) that requires teen drivers to graduate through licensing stages before receiving an unrestricted license. The provisions for the law take effect Jan. 1, 2001. By enacting the law Missouri became the 36th state to adopt such a program which AAA strongly advocated because teen drivers are severely over represented in crashes. Missouri teen drivers make up less than 6 percent of the licensed drivers in the state, but they were involved in more than 20 percent of the wrecks during 1997. The new system is designed to allow teens to gain valuable driving experience under conditions that minimize risk. Under the new law, teens must comply with several provisions:

• For the instructional permit phase of the GDL, youngsters at least 15 years of age will have to have their parents permission and receive at least 20 hours of "behind the wheel" training. Any driving must be with a parent or guardian, and a minimum of 6 months must be spent in this period of GDL.
• cost: $2.50 valid for 12 months
• To qualify for an intermediate license, the next phase, a youngster must be 16 years old and have had an instructional permit for at least six months. In this class, no driving is allowed without a parent from 1-5 a.m. except for school functions, job-related driving and specified emergencies. Also, all passengers must wear seat belts. In order for a driver to advance from this intermediate phase of licensing, the driver must have had no traffic violations for which points are assessed for the previous six months and no alcohol enforcement contacts for the preceding 12 months.
• cost: $5.00 valid for 12 months
• To obtain an unrestricted license, drivers must be 18 years of age and have completed the intermediate phase of the GDL system. In addition, to qualify for a full license, the driver must have had no traffic violations for which points are assessed and no alcohol enforcement contacts within the prior 12 months.
• cost: $7.50 valid for 3 years
• for additional information please call (573)751-2730 or e-mail dlbmail@mail.dor.state.mo.us