Information for Parents

What’s your role for your teen driver?

When your teen is in the driver’s seat, you’re far more than just a passenger.  Your job is to steer your teen into a lifetime of safe driving. As a team, the two of you can navigate Colorado’s laws and safety guidelines.

While this can be an exciting time, it can also be nerve-wracking for a parent. The best way to put yourself at ease is to become armed with knowledge about the process of getting a license, have a solid understanding of the specific restrictions for teen drivers, and open the lines of communication between you and your teen driver.

Colorado's GDL laws for teen drivers

Colorado first adopted Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws in 1999 after a horrific crash in Greeley that killed four teens.  The 16-year-old driver had just gotten his license and had little driving experience when his friends hopped in his car and he ran a stop sign.

GDL laws help teenagers gain important driving skills gradually while limiting dangers by restricting the number of passengers, banning cell phone use, and setting a curfew. GDL laws have saved the lives of countless Colorado teens. Since its inception, traffic-related fatalities for teen drivers has decreased by 50%!