Graduated Driver Licensing
Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) systems help new drivers gain skills under lower-risk conditions. As drivers move through the three stages of GDL, they are given more driving privileges. These privileges may include driving at night or with passengers. GDL systems are proven to reduce teen crashes and deaths.
All states have three-stage GDL systems, though laws vary.
- Stage 1: learner’s permit
- Stage 2: intermediate license (sometimes called a provisional license)
- Stage 3: unrestricted license
For more information about Graduated Driver Licensing systems in your state, please visit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Graduated Driver Licensing or your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles web site.
Graduated Driver Licensing System Planning Guide
CDC’s GDL Planning Guide is designed to assist states to assess, develop, and implement actionable plans to strengthen graduated driver licensing practices.
2016 CDC Graduated Driver Licensing System Planning Guide [PDF – 3MB]
- Page last reviewed: December 20, 2016
- Page last updated: December 20, 2016
- Content Source:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control,
- Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention