Idaho's Teen Driving Laws: A Parent's Guide to the GDL Program

For a teenager in Idaho, getting a driver's license is a rite of passage. For parents, it marks the beginning of a new chapter of responsibility and concern. To address this, Idaho has a mandatory Graduated Driver License (GDL) program for all drivers under the age of 17. [1]

These laws are not designed to be inconvenient; they are a data-driven safety system created to protect new, inexperienced drivers by limiting their exposure to the highest-risk driving scenarios. For these laws to be effective, both teens and parents must understand and enforce them as a team.

The Foundation: Driver's Education and the Permit

The journey begins before a teen can even drive. Idaho's GDL program is built on a strong foundation of formal education.

• Driver's Education: A teen can enroll in a state-approved driver education program at 14 years and 6 months old. The course consists of 30 hours of classroom, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel, and 6 hours of in-car observation. [1, 2, 4]
• Supervised Instruction Permit (SIP): Once enrolled in driver's ed, the teen can apply for their permit. This permit is the key to the learning phase.

The Mandatory Supervised Practice Period

This is the cornerstone of the GDL program. It is a dedicated time for learning under the watchful eye of an experienced driver.

• Six-Month Holding Period: A teen must hold their Supervised Instruction Permit for a minimum of six consecutive months, conviction-free, before they are eligible to take their skills test. [1, 2, 4] This ensures they gain experience across different seasons and conditions.

• The 50-Hour Driving Log: During this six-month period, a parent or legal guardian must supervise and certify that the teen has completed at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice. [2]

  • Of these 50 hours, at least 10 hours must take place at night. This is critically important for teaching teens how to handle the different challenges of nighttime driving.

• Supervision Rule: During the entire permit phase, the teen must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and is seated in the front passenger seat. [1]

The Driver's License: Freedom with Restrictions

After successfully completing the permit phase, a teen (age 15+) can take the skills test to earn their Class D license. However, this license comes with restrictions until the driver has more experience or ages out of the program.

Restrictions for Licensed Drivers Under 16:

• Daylight Driving Only: For the first six months of being licensed, a driver under 16 is restricted to driving only between sunrise and sunset. [1, 2]

  • Exception: This restriction is waived if the teen is accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old in the front passenger seat.

• Passenger Restrictions: For the entire time a driver is under 16, they are not permitted to transport more than one non-family member as a passenger. [2]

  • Exception: This restriction is waived if the teen is accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old in the front passenger seat.

General Teen Driving Rules:

• Seat Belts: The driver and every single passenger in the vehicle must wear a seat belt or be in an approved child safety seat.
• Distracted Driving: Idaho law prohibits texting while driving for all drivers. It is strongly recommended that parents enforce a zero-tolerance policy for any cell phone use while their teen is driving.

The Parent's Crucial Role

The GDL laws provide the legal framework, but a parent's reinforcement is what truly creates a safe driver.

• Know the Rules: Be an expert on the curfew and passenger restrictions so you can enforce them correctly.
• Lead by Example: Your teen learned their driving habits from watching you. Put your phone away, obey the speed limit, and always wear your seat belt.
• Create a Driving Contract: A written parent-teen agreement that outlines the rules and consequences can be a powerful tool for setting expectations beyond what the law requires.

By working together, parents and teens can navigate Idaho's GDL program, ensuring the path to driving freedom is a safe one that builds a lifetime of responsible habits.