More on Teenage Driving – What Teens Need to Know

Parents can be liable for the negligence of their son or daughter out on the road but teenage drivers also need to understand their own risks, namely losing their driver’s license. And that goes not only for a traffic offense on the road but for poor behavior off the road as well.

Mark Alexander, a personal injury attorney and partner with the Gainesville, Ga. law firm Stewart Melvin & Frost, explains.

Question: What do the teens themselves need to understand the consequences of their actions behind the wheel and off the road?

Mark: For drivers under 21 years old, tolerance under the law is very low. Young drivers are at a high risk of having driver’s license suspended if the commit traffic offense such as driving 24 mph over speed limit, reckless driving, racing, leaving scene of accident or passing a school bus. They lose their license if they accumulate four traffic offense points in any one year or 15 points in any two-year period if they are over 21. They can also lose their license if they are convicted of a DUI.

Question: What non-driving offense can cause a driver under 21 to have their license taken away?

Mark: A driver can lose their license for non-traffic offense such as being convicted of purchasing alcohol or using fake ID, or being convicted of possession of marijuana.

The bottom line warning to teens: If you do stupid stuff, even if not driving a car, you could lose your driver’s license. Driving is a privilege not a right and this privilege needs to be respected.

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