New driver law hits Florida - failure to follow rules may lead to ban
The goal of this new policy is to reduce the amount of preventable crashes and fatalities among teen drivers. The law, which was set to take effect this month, will now be enforced starting on August 1 in order for there to be a smooth rollout. The new rule was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis back in May after it unanimously passed in the state's House and Senate .
Florida residents must adhere to several terms to snag a learner's permit, which is necessary for a driver's license. Hopeful drivers must be 15 to enroll in courses, and anyone under the age of 18 must have a signed parental consent form. They must provide proof of TLSAE course completion, a program that usually takes four hours to finish.
Once they pass a vision and hearing test conducted in a service center, the applicant must pass a Class E knowledge exam. After meeting the permit requirements, the driver must hold their permit for at least one year or reach the age of 18. The drivers can take their driver's test once the requirements are met in an insured vehicle that passes inspection.
Licensed 16-year-old drivers will only be allowed to drive between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm, which will change to 5:00 am and 1:00 am once they turn 17. Once they turn 18, restrictions will be lifted, and Florida residents will typically have the freedom to drive as they please. The state of Florida has had high numbers in fatalities from crashes involving teenage drivers.
Over one million crashes involved teenage drivers back in 2020, including 4,405 fatalities and 319,335 serious injuries. Those numbers were significantly higher in 2022, and studies showed that riding without a seatbelt results in one-third of fatalities and serious injuries. Seatbelt usage has been a high concern for drivers and passengers of all ages, resulting in new and proposed state laws.
A new law in Virginia that took effect earlier this month requires all adults to wear seatbelts on highways . Drivers who do not follow this rule will face a $25 fine. As of now, New Hampshire is the only state that doesn't have an adult seatbelt mandate . Michigan has also revamped its car seat laws to improve child safety . Drivers who do not follow the seatbelt laws will face a $65 penalty, including a $25 civil fine, court costs, and a $40 justice system assessment.
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