The Teenage & Adult Driver Responsibility Act

The Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA) is a graduated driver's license program established for young drivers ages 15 to 18 in Georgia by a collaborative effort of highway safety advocates, legislators, law enforcement officials, educators, businesses and media in the wake of a high number of fatal vehicle crashes involving young, inexperienced drivers.

Three Step Process in TADRA

TADRA involves an intense, three-step educational process that allows the young driver to gain more experience behind the wheel:

1. Step One - Instructional Permit is granted to 15-year-olds upon successfully passing a written examination. The driver with this permit must be accompanied by a passenger who is at least 21 years old and possesses a valid Class C driver's license at all times while driving.
2. Step Two - Intermediate License (Class D) The license is granted to drivers between 16 and 18 years of age who have held an Instructional Permit for 12 months and passed a driving test.
   The Intermediate License has the following restrictions:
   • No driving between the hours of Midnight and 6 a.m. No exceptions.
   • Passenger restrictions:
     • For the initial six-month period immediately following the issuance of a Class D license, any Class D license holder shall not drive a motor vehicle upon the public roads, streets or highways of this state when any other passenger in the vehicle is not a member of the driver's immediate family.
     • During the second six-month period immediately following issuance of a Class D license, any Class D license holder shall not drive a motor vehicle upon the public roads, streets or highways of this state when more than one other passenger in the vehicle (who is not a member of the driver's immediate family) is less than 21 years of age.
     • After the second six-month period, any Class D license holder shall not drive a motor vehicle upon the public roads, streets or highways of this state when more than three other passengers in the vehicle (who are not members of the driver's immediate family) are less than 21 years of age.
   • Joshua's Law - On or after January 1, 2007, any 16 year old who obtains an initial Class D license must have completed:
     • A driver education course approved by the Department of Driver Services AND;
     • You also must have completed a cumulative total of at least 40 hours of other supervised driving experience, including at least 6 hours at night.
     • If you have not completed an approved driver's education course, you cannot get your Class D driver's license until you reach age 17. Remember, 40 hour of driving experience, including 6 hours of driving at night, is always required for a Class D driver's license.
       ** These requirements also apply to an applicant for an initial Class C driver's license who has not previously been issued a Class D license.
3. Step Three - A Full License (Class C) driver's license is granted to drivers ages 18 years of age and older who hold the class D license and have incurred no major traffic convictions during the previous 12 months.
   The following violations must not occur during this period:
   • DUI
   • Eluding a police officer
   • Drag racing
   • Reckless driving
   • Hit and run
   • Any violation that assesses four or more points on the driver's license.

Note: Drivers under the age of 18 years in a 12-month license suspension period must not incur a violation point count over four points.

Note: Georgia has a zero tolerance for underage drunk driving. Convicted drivers with a blood-alcohol content level of .08 grams or higher will face a 12-month license suspension on the first offense.