TADRA
THE TEENAGE AND ADULT DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY ACT
TADRA (The Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act) is a graduated driver’s license program for young drivers ages 15 to 18. It was established in Georgia by a collaborative effort of highway safety advocates, legislators, law endorsement officials, educators, businesses and media in the wake of a high number of fatal vehicle crashes involving young, inexperienced drivers. The law significantly changes the way young motorists earn and maintain the privilege of driving by providing a controlled means for new drivers to gain experience and by reducing high-risk driving situations.
This act directly addresses the leading killer of our young people – traffic crashes. While the law does focus on young drivers, it also contains important provisions that affect drivers over 21, particularly in the area of DUI prevention and enforcement.
TADRA involves an intense, three-step educations process that allows the young driver to gain more experience behind the wheel:
STEP ONE – INSTRUCTIONAL PERMIT (CP) is granted to 15-year-olds upon successfully passing a written examination. The driver with this permit must be accompanied by a passenger who is 21 years old and possesses a valid Class C driver’s license at all times while driving.
STEP TWO - INTERMEDIATE LICENSE (Class D) The license is granted to drivers between 16 and 18 years of age who have held an Instructional Permit for 12 months and passed a driving test. The Intermediate License has the following restrictions: 1. No driving between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. No exceptions. 2. No driving with any non-family passengers for the first six months. After 6 months, no more than three non-family passengers that are under 21 years of age. 3. Joshua’s Law – On or after January 1, 2007, any 16 year old who obtains an initial Class D license must have completed: a. You must have completed a driver education course approved by the Department of Driver Services and b. You also must have completed a cumulative total of at least forty (40) hours of other supervised driving experience, including at least six (6) hours at night. If you have not completed an approved driver’s education course, you cannot get your Class D driver’s license until you reach age seventeen (17).
STEP THREE - A FULL LICENSE (Class C) driver’s license is granted to drivers ages 18 years of age and older who hold the Class D license and have incurred no major traffic convictions during the previous 12 months. The following violations must not occur during this period: 1. DUI 2. Eluding a police officer 3. Drag racing 4. Reckless driving 5. Hit and run 6. Any violation that assesses four or more points on the driver’s license Drivers under the age of 18 years in a 12-month license suspension period must not incur a violation point count over four points. Georgia has a zero tolerance for underage drunk driving. Convicted drivers with a blood-alcohol content level of .08 grams or higher will face a 12-month license suspension on the first offense.
Why TADRA?
1. In 2000, one out of five fatal crashes in Georgia involved speed, with drivers ages 16-17 having the highest rate of motor vehicle fatalities (based on the total number of drivers per age group).
2. Young, inexperienced drivers ages 16 to 24 have a higher rate of crashes, injuries, and fatalities than drivers over age 24.
3. The Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA), enacted on July 1, 1997, led to a 44.5 percent decline in teenage speed-related crashes in 18 months, which was five times less than the rate of drivers over the age 24.
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