Teens with provisional permits can’t chauffeur their peers
Q I’ve got an auto insurance/provisional license question. My daughter’s 16-year-old friend was pulled over last week by police in Laguna Beach for driving with her lights off. When the officer checked her driver’s license, he realized the driver was 16 with a provisional license, driving three teens under 20, including my daughter. — Marci Weinberg, Tustin
A Which is against the law for good reason. No driver under the age of 18 can carry other teens for the first year they have a license unless a licensed driver 25 or older is in the car. So what did the cop do?
Q He had the three kids get out and gave the driver a warning. Our daughter knows she’s not supposed to drive with anyone with just a provisional license.
Unfortunately for my daughter, my husband and I witnessed the whole thing just outside a restaurant we were eating at, and she lost time with her friends because she lied to us about how she was getting home. We’re trying to figure out why all her friends’ parents allow their children with provisional licenses to drive kids under 20, or why they let their kids be passengers in cars with those with provisional licenses.
My daughter said, “I don’t understand why you are the only parents who are so strict about this.” — Marci Weinberg
A I wish more parents were like you.
Q Outside of the obvious safety issues, we were under the assumption that if a driver with a provisional license is involved in an at-fault accident, the auto insurance becomes null and void because the driver is breaking the law.
Can you confirm this, please? — Marci Weinberg
A I turned to my longtime insurance agent, who said:
“Sounds like great parents, as they are asking a really good question. They may be covered. Unless the child is specifically excluded on the policy, some carriers will cover them.
Other policies say NO ONE is covered except the listed driver. They need to call their agent and ask if their child will be covered if they are driving with a permit and drive the car without your knowledge.”
Now it’s my turn to weigh in.
We had a terrible crash in the Bay Area on Christmas in which three 16-year-olds were killed when the 16-yearold driver lost control and ran off a curvy road. What should be done to make teens and their parents follow the law?
First, have a predriving discussion with your child. Stress the rationale behind the law and your support for it. Also, talk to the parents of her friends.
Tell them about the law and be firm about your feelings. Let your teen know you’ll be doing this.
Remember, the driver failed to turn on her headlights.
The cop may have prevented a tragedy.