North Carolina is poised to make some big changes to the process that teens go through before they can get a driver’s license. If House Bill 158 becomes law, teens in this state would be eligible to obtain their provisional, or Level Two, drivers’ licenses without a road test. However, they would still need a road test before they can obtain a Level Three provisional license.
The bill is widely expected to become law. It’s already passed the state House and Senate and has now gone to the governor’s office for final approval.
A Level 2 provisional driver’s license allows teens between 16 and 17 years of age to drive without supervision for any reason between the house of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., to and from work and whenever they’re heading to any volunteer emergency service work.
Naturally, not everyone is thrilled with the idea. Detractors point out that 80% of teenage deaths occur in motor vehicle accidents — and user error is the biggest problem. Teens simply don’t have the breadth and depth of experience to always respond quickly and safely to problems. They also make a lot of rookie mistakes on the road, like driving too fast or letting their thoughts wander while they’re behind the wheel.
While you may be confident in your own teen driver’s abilities, there’s no guarantee that other parents will have instilled the same level of responsibility and caution into their teenagers — and they will soon be sharing the road with you.
If you’re involved in an accident with a teen driver, take heart: You can claim still claim compensation for your injuries and losses. Find out more about your legal rights today.
