Special teen driving rules

Wondering what the teen driving rules are? This is taken right off of the DOL website to better explain what you can and CAN NOT do while under the age of 18-

Special rules for teen drivers

When you get a driver license, you must follow some special rules and restrictions. These rules are in place to help protect teen drivers from accidents and help them develop and improve skills in the safest way.

If you’re under 18, you’ll be issued an intermediate driver license and must follow these special rules:

• Passengers:
  • For the first 6 months, you can’t drive with passengers under the age of 20 unless they’re members of your immediate family (such as a spouse, child, stepchild, or siblings, both by birth and marriage).
  • For the next 6 months, you can’t carry more than 3 passengers who are under 20 years old and aren’t members of your immediate family.
• Nighttime driving:
  For the first 12 months, you can’t drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless you’re with a licensed driver age 25 or older. The only exception to this rule is driving for agricultural purposes (transporting farm products or supplies under the direction of a farmer as described in RCW 46.20.070).
• Cell phones:
  You aren’t permitted to use wireless devices while driving, even with a hands-free device. This includes talking on cell phones and sending or receiving text messages. You may only use a wireless device to report an emergency.

How long these restrictions apply

After 1 year of following these rules and driving without a collision or traffic citation, you can drive without limitations to the time of day or passengers you can carry. When you turn 18, these special rules no longer apply and your intermediate driver license automatically becomes a regular license.

Penalties for driving violations and accidents

• First violation: The passenger and nighttime restrictions will be extended until you’re 18 and we’ll send a warning letter to you and your parent or guardian if you do any of the following:
  • Get a ticket for violating the restrictions.
  • Get a ticket for violating a rule of the road.
  • Are involved in an accident where:
    • You get a ticket or are determined to have caused the accident.
    • No one involved in the accident receives a ticket.
    • The cause of the accident can’t be determined.
    • Only your car was involved in the accident.
• Second violation: Your license will be suspended for 6 months (or until age 18, whichever comes first). We’ll notify you and your parent or guardian before we take any suspension action.
• Third violation: Your license will be suspended until you’re 18. We’ll notify you and your parent or guardian before we take any suspension action.