It can be difficult for a parent to say no when their 16 or 17-year-old child has their provisional license and wants to drive somewhere. Equally, teens may feel their parents are being ridiculous or overbearing if they say no.
The state of Maryland has laws in place that can help avoid these conflicts while keeping drivers under 18 and those who share the road with them safer.
Limits on passengers
Research has shown that driving with friends in the car raises the risk for a teenage driver. You only have to look at the stupid things teenagers sometimes get up to when in groups as compared to alone to understand why this occurs. It’s part herd mentality, part peer pressure and part wanting to impress.
Maryland prohibits drivers under 18 from carrying others under 18 who are not relations living in the same household unless there is also someone 21 or over sitting next to them who has held a license for at least three years
Limits on nighttime driving
Driving at night is more dangerous so it is safer for a new driver to avoid this until they have built up more experience. It can also present challenges for parents who fear their child may consume alcohol or drugs, which tends to occur more at night than in the daytime.
Maryland again steps in with a law to help protect drivers aged under 18. It does not allow them to drive between midnight and five in the morning unless there is someone aged at least 21 sitting next to them. Note that it does make an exception where the teen is driving to or from a job, athletic event or training session or organized volunteering activity.
Despite sticking to these laws, a teenage driver may still be involved in a crash. While it might be their fault, it also might not. Legal guidance can help you clarify the situation and pursue any compensation due.