[Angrybird 12]

I think this is a better system than just raising the age..

the Tennessee Graduated drivers license..

Drivers under 18 years old are required to go through
graduated steps of driving experience to gain full, unrestricted
Driver License status. The graduated Driver License steps are
designed to incrementally teach young drivers how to drive by
requiring minimum levels of driving experience and a safe
driving history record before allowing teenage drivers to
receive a “full-fledged” Class D driver license. Motor vehicle
crashes are the major cause of death for young people between
the ages of 15 and 20. By requiring more supervised practice,
the State of Tennessee hopes to save lives and prevent tragic
injuries.
There are four steps to becoming a full, unrestricted Driver
License holder:
1. Learner Permit
2. Intermediate Restricted License
3. Intermediate Unrestricted License
4. Regular Driver License.
The above four steps are part of the Graduated Driver License
Program. A license issued under the first three steps will have
“GDL” printed in the bottom left corner. See page 15 for
pictures of graduated licences.
Learner Permit
• You must be 15 years
old and pass the
standard written and
visual exams.
• You must hold a
learner permit for 180
days in order to move to
the Intermediate
Restricted License step.
• You may drive a car only
when accompanied by a
license driver 21 years or older who is riding
in the front seat of the vehicle.
• You may not drive between the hours of 10 P.M. and 6
A.M.
• Driver and passengers must wear a seat belt.
Intermediate License
There are two Intermediate License levels for drivers under 18
years of age. The first level is the Intermediate Restricted
License and the second level is the Intermediate Unrestricted
License.
First Level - Intermediate Restricted License
• You must be sixteen (16) years old and pass the driving
test.
• You must have held a learner permit for 180 days.
• You cannot have tickets for driving offenses that add up to
more than six (6) points on your driving record during the
immediate 180 days preceding your application.
• You must have verification from a parent, legal guardian
or licensed driving instructor stating you have fifty hours
(ten hours at night) of driving experience. Certification of
driving experience must be made on the official form (SF-
1256) provided by the Department of Safety. This form is
available at all DL Stations or may be downloaded from
our web site. This form must be signed by either a parent,
legal guardian or licensed driving instructor.
• Driver and passengers must wear a seat belt.
Second Level - Intermediate Unrestricted License
To move from the Intermediate Restricted to the Unrestricted
License, you must be 17 years old and meet the following
conditions:
• You must have held an Intermediate Restricted License for
one (1) year.
• You cannot have accumulated more than six points on
your driving record.
• You cannot have had a traffic accident that was your fault.
• You cannot have 2 seat belt violations.
• Driver and passengers must wear a seat belt.
• No additional tests are required.
Final Level - Regular Driver License
You may obtain a Class D regular driver license when you are
18 years of age, or when you graduate from high school or
receive a GED, whichever is sooner. The word “Intermediate”
will be removed from your license when you move to the
Regular Driver License. However, the license will still include
the “Under 21” indicators.


Hardships may be issued at age fourteen and will always
expire on the driver’s sixteenth birthday. Hardships
automatically serve as a Learner Permit (PD) once the holder
turns fifteen (15) years of age.
If driver did not have the Hardship License for the minimum
of 180 days by the time the Hardship expires on the sixteenth
birthday, the driver will have to be re-issued the learner permit.
This permit must be carried for the remainder of time to
complete the required 180 days before the issuance of an
Intermediate Restricted is allowed. The Hardship license
cannot be renewed.