So, your little girl or boy has finally reached the point where although they are not quite adults, they are now eligible for some privileges under Nevada state law. The scary truth is that car accidents in Nevada are more common that we would like to admit. As a result, handing your car keys over to your not-so-little boy or girl can be incredibly stressful for a parent. Since you cannot avoid this forever, it is best that you and your teenager review state driving laws together, as well as the potential consequences for failing to abide by these rules. Doing so will (hopefully) prevent you from having to hire a personal injury attorney after a Nevada car accident.
Getting a Driver’s Permit
The first step toward driving is for your child to apply for a learner’s permit. This is because driving without a license is illegal under state law. Under Nevada law, if your teen is convicted for driving without a license, then the date for which they will be eligible for a learner’s permit will be pushed back.
Generally, a teenager is eligible for a supervised driver’s permit at exactly the age of 15 and a half. In Nevada, the parent must apply with the minor child. Moreover, in order to be granted a learner’s permit, the teenager must take a written skills test as well as a vision examination. Nevada state law requires that those under the age of 18 who apply for a driver’s permit must be either a high school graduate or currently enrolled in high school.
Getting a Driver’s License
Under Nevada law, teen drivers must first document 50 practice driving hours, of which at least 10 must occur at night, before the state will grant a driver’s license. The person supervising the teenage driver — even if that person is the minor’s parent — must have held a driver’s license for at least one year and be over 21 years of age. All teenagers must also complete a 20-hour driver’s education program before being eligible for a driver’s license. This requirement is typically automatically fulfilled at any highschool as part of the students’ curriculum. Finally, the state can only issue a provisional driver’s license to someone who is at least 16 years of age, and that person cannot have had any moving violations or found to be at-fault in a car accident during the timeframe that he or she had a driver’s permit.
Nevada’s Traffic Laws
As long as a driver is under the age of 18, he or she is not permitted to have another passenger in the vehicle who is also under the age of 18 during the first six months of having a driver’s permit. There is an exception to this rule, however, for immediate family members. Moreover, the state of Nevada imposes strict curfews on teen drivers. Unless going to or from a school event or work, teen drivers are not allowed to be behind the wheel between the hours of 10pm and 5am. Once the teenager turns 18 years of age, he or she should be able to apply for an unrestricted driver’s license.
Stay Safe
Getting a learner’s permit and eventually a driver’s license is a big deal. Be sure that both you and your child understand the rules in Nevada. If your teen driver or anyone you know is involved in a car accident, contact H&P Law. We will fight to protect your loved one’s rights under Nevada law.
