Introduction

Teenage & Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA)

The Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA) was enacted on July 1, 1997. TADRA established a graduated driver’s license program for young drivers ages 15 to 18 in Georgia. This act directly addresses the leading killer of our young people – traffic crashes. 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. 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 education process that allows the young driver to gain more experience behind the wheel:

Step One – Instructional Permit (Class CP)

Class CP permit fee – $10.00

Payable in cash, money order, check or credit card.

In order to apply for an Instructional (Learner’s) Permit (Class CP), all applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be at least 15 years of age.
     
  • Fee must be paid before the test begins.
     
  • You must pass a vision exam and a knowledge exam.
     
  • If you are under 18 years of age, a parent, guardian, or authorized driver training instructor must sign the application for Instructional Permit. The signer also has the authority to request the revocation of the Instructional Permit at any time before your 18th birthday.
     
  • If you are new to Georgia, you must surrender any out of state driver's license/permit/ID card.
     
  • If you were previously issued a driver's license/permit in another state, and that card has been lost or stolen, you must provide a certified copy of your motor vehicle report (MVR) from the state that issued the card. The MVR must be dated within the last 30 days. The DDS does not accept uncertified copies printed from websites, but a fax may be sent to the DDS directly from the other state agency.
     
  • If you are under 18 years of age, you must present a notarized Certificate of School Enrollment (DS-1) form from your school signed within the last 30 days, a high school diploma or GED.
     
  • All documents must be in English.

Step Two – Provisional License (Class D)

Class D license fee – $10.00

Payable in cash, money order or credit card.

In order to apply for a Provisional License (Class D) all applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be at least 16 years of age.
     
  • You must have held an Instructional Permit (Class CP) for a minimum of one year and a day. Your permit must also be surrendered at the time of testing.
     
  • You must not have been convicted of any traffic violations that prohibit issuance of a Class D.
     
  • You must have completed a minimum of 40 hours of supervised driving experience, 6 hours of which must be at night.
     
  • Anyone under 18 years of age must meet the driver training requirements of Joshua’s Law.
     
  • You must pass a vision exam and road skills test.
     
  • If you are under 18 years of age, a parent/ guardian, or authorized driver training instructor must sign the application for the driver’s license. The signer also has the authority to request the revocation of the driver’s license at any time before your 18th birthday.
     
  • If you are new to Georgia, you must surrender any out-of-state driver’s license/permit/ID card.
     
  • If you were previously issued a driver’s license/permit in another state, and that card has been lost or stolen, you must provide a certified copy of your motor vehicle report (MVR) from the state that issued the card. The MVR must be dated within the last 30 days. The DDS does not accept uncertified copies printed from websites, but a fax may be sent to the DDS directly from the other state agency.
     
  • If you are under 18 years of age, you must present a notarized Certificate of School Enrollment (DS-1) form from your school signed within the last 30 days, a high school diploma or GED.
     
  • You must present your ADAP or eADAP certificate of completion.
     
  • If the Parent Teen Driving Guide was used to satisfy the Joshua’s Law “Behind the Wheel” requirement, you must sign the Driving Experience Affidavit (DDS-7) provided at DDS affirming you have a minimum of 40 hours of driving, 6 of which must be at night.
     
  • All documents must be in English.
Class D Provisional License Conditions
  • No driving between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. No exceptions.
  • During the first six months after issuance, no driving with passengers who are not members of the driver’s immediate family;
  • For the second six month period, no driving with more than one passenger under the age of 21 who is not a member of the driver’s immediate family;
  • After one year from the date of issuance, no more than three passengers under the age of 21 who are not members of the driver’s immediate family.

The Parents’ Role in the Young Driver’s Licensing Process

  • Grant the Department of Driver Services permission to issue their young driver an Instructional Permit and a Class D Driver’s License.
  • Provide their teen with at least 40 hours of supervised driving experience, 6 hours of which must be at night.
  • Ensure that teens under 18 complete an approved driver education course prior to applying for a Class D license.
  • Limit the teen’s driving privileges if he or she is not demonstrating responsible behavior.
  • Continue to monitor their teen’s driving after receipt of their provisional license and reinforce safety belt use, passenger restrictions, and hands-free cell phone use.
  • Serve as a positive role model by demonstrating safe driving behaviors.
Parent Tips for In-Car Guided Practice Sessions

Parental reinforcement of basic driving skills and good decision-making will lead to safe driving habits that will last a lifetime.

  • Enjoy your time together. Have fun! This is a great “bonding” opportunity. Focus on the driving task and leave family issues at home.
     
  • When you drive, set a good example to model. Always wear your safety belt. Try to correct any unsafe driving habits that you may have acquired; such as rolling through stop signs, accelerating through yellow lights, exceeding the speed limit, driving distracted, etc.
     
  • If possible, initial instruction should begin in a car with an automatic transmission so that your teen can focus on mastering basic vehicle control maneuvers.
     
  • Select driving environments that complement the lesson objectives and the novice driver’s ability. Start in parking lots and progress to quiet neighborhoods. Stay in a safe, low-risk environment as long as needed and, in the beginning, practice using driving routes familiar to your teen.
     
  • Check to make sure your teen has their Instructional Permit and insurance information with him or her when operating a vehicle.
     
  • Explain the objectives of each lesson and review what was learned in the last lesson.
     
  • Feedback should be precise and immediate. If a mistake is made, repeat the maneuver, taking the driver step by step through the process, and then allow practice without assistance.
     
  • Be patient, calm, and alert at all times. Make positive remarks frequently.
     
  • Have short, well-planned practice sessions. Thirty minutes is the optimum learning period for beginning drivers. The first 30 minutes of each one-hour session should be used to introduce and practice the new skills. Assess the teen’s understanding of the lesson objectives during the second half of the session. Set high standards and evaluate each driving session together.
     
  • In a parking lot, practice steering the car with your left hand from the passenger seat.
     
  • If you have a car with a parking brake between the seats, practice stopping the car by depressing the release button and raising the parking brake.
     
  • To prepare yourself to regain speed control in the event your teen panics, practice shifting the transmission from drive to neutral from the passenger seat.
     
  • Adjust the mirror on the passenger sun visor so you can use it as a rearview mirror. If the right outside mirror is properly adjusted to eliminate blind spot and glare, you can also use that mirror to monitor traffic to the rear from the passenger seat. (see the information under the heading "Contemporary Mirror Setting")
     
  • Keep instructions simple and concise. First direct where to go, and then state the action to take (e.g., “At the next intersection, turn right.”)
     
  • Check mirrors and the space to the sides and ahead of the vehicle before giving directions.
     
  • Emphasize driving with a large anticipation zone by looking at least 15-20 seconds ahead. Think “what if”; what if a car suddenly changes lanes, stops, turns, etc.
     
  • Encourage commentary driving! This is the most valuable tool you have for checking how your teen is using driving skills and evaluating the environment. Ask your teen to “read the traffic picture aloud” describing anything that may affect your path of travel. For example, when your teen changes speed, your teen may say: “red light, mirror, ease foot off accelerator and brake.” Actually, you should hear “mirror and ease off accelerator” a lot!
     
  • Reinforce the fact that a green light means one must scan the intersection before proceeding.
     
  • Encourage your teen not to panic when approached by an emergency vehicle and to focus on looking for a safe area to pull over.
     
  • Discuss the rules for passing a stopped school bus with flashing lights.
     
  • Encourage new drivers to change their route to avoid making a difficult left turn.
     
  • There is a lot to learn in each lesson, so your teen may need extra time to attain adequate skill proficiency. Mastery at each level is important before moving on to the next lesson.
     
  • If possible, integrate night driving into each area of instruction.

View the video online.