What are the Rules of the Road for Teen Drivers?

The hope everyone enjoys Memorial Day, the first holiday of the summer season. It’s an extra day off for some of us and we will take advantage of this opportunity to travel and explore Michigan or meet friends and family.

Regardless if you are traveling or attending the hometown Memorial Day parade, please remember the true reason for the holiday. Stand for the flag, tell a veteran 'thank you' for their service and take a moment to remember the veterans who aren’t here and deserve a moment of thoughtful reflection.

Question: My wife and I are confused by the billboards we see about teen drivers and passengers. Our son is 17. What are the restrictions on passengers in his vehicle, and do they mean that he cannot be sent to pick up his three cousins, ages 4, 5 and 7, and bring them to our house?

Answer:  This question falls under the Graduated Drivers License (GDL) and I utilized information from the Office of Highway Safety Planning and the Michigan Secretary of State for the answer.

GDL Level One

The restrictions for a GDL Level One are: 

1. May only drive with licensed parent/guardian or designated licensed adult age 21 or older. 
2. If driving with a designated adult, driver should carry a signed letter of authorization from parent/guardian.

So, under a GDL Level One, if a parent or someone 21 years or older and designated by the parents is not in the car, the GDL Level One driver cannot be driving.

Parents, did you know that after the GDL Level One license is issued to your teen, you may cancel it at any time if you believe your teen is not ready to drive under supervision?

GDL Level Two

The restrictions for a GDL Level Two are:

1. May drive alone without a parent or designated adult between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.
2. May have only ONE passenger under the age of 21. (Exceptions: may have more than one individual under the age of 21 if they are a member of the driver’s immediate family, or if the driver is traveling to or from school or a school-sanctioned event.)
3. Level Two license holders may not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless traveling to or from employment, or accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or licensed driver over 21 years old designated by a parent or legal guardian.

It is a good idea to have documentation in the car reflecting employment or school events.

Parents, did you know you have the option of requesting your teen driver remain at GDL Level Two and not automatically advance to GDL Level Three at age 17?  The request must be made 30 days before the teen's 17th birthday.

GDL Level Three

The qualifications for a GDL Level Three license are:

1. Must be at least 17 years old.
2. Must have held a GDL Level Two license for six months.
3. Must be violation- and suspension-free and have no at-fault crashes for 12 consecutive months.
4. There are no state-imposed restrictions regarding driving time or passengers.
5. The parent or guardian may restrict or cancel the license.

So, the answer to your question is no, your teenage driver would not be able to pick up his cousins from their home and travel to your home, because they are not considered immediate family (defined as brother, sister, step-brother and step-sister.) I know some may disagree, but you asked the question and this is the legal answer.

In 2009 in Michigan, 154 people were killed and 1,485 were seriously injured in crashes involving drivers ages 16-20. Of those fatalities, 80 were a 16- to 20-year-old driver or passenger.

The Office of Highway Safety Planning encourages parents and teens to remember, for the GDL Level Two license, “First and Ten: Don’t exceed your first passenger and don’t drive after 10 p.m.” You can go to www.firstn10.com or www.michigan.gov/sos for more information.

Meet Our New Recruits

The Brighton Post has two new Troopers. On Dec, 26, the Michigan State Police started the 122nd Recruit School with 38 recruits. Twenty weeks later, on May 13, the 122nd Recruit School graduated 35 new Troopers. Two of those Troopers were assigned to the Brighton Post.

Trooper Raymond Matthews, of Laingsburg, was a construction worker prior to joining the Michigan State Police. Trooper Matthews has a Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental science, and sociology and anthropology. 

Trooper Kenneth Monroe, of Swartz Creek, was a police officer for the Swartz Creek Police Department prior to joining the Michigan State Police. Trooper Monroe’s father, Danny Monroe, retired from the Michigan State Police in 2003, as a detective sergeant. Trooper Monroe is a state certified auto mechanic.

Both Trooper Matthews and Trooper Monroe will work with various Brighton Post, Field Training Officers, for the next 18 weeks, learning how to use their recruit training with real world experiences. Both troopers will then be sent back to the Michigan State Police Training Academy for a final two-week training period. 

At the end of their 18-month probationary training, both troopers will be able to utilize their training in criminal law and procedure, constitutional law, first aid, traffic law and other training to serve the citizens of Michigan as a full service law enforcement officer.

Safety quote: "Prepare and prevent, don't repair and repent."

— Author Unknown