Indiana Learners Permit Restrictions - IN Driving Permit Rules
When you first get your Indiana learners permit, you are not granted full driving privileges and you are required to observe all Indiana permit restrictions whenever you are driving. The reason why we have these learners permit restrictions is because newly licensed drivers don't have much driving experience and they are likely to be involved in a traffic accident. Indiana driving permit restrictions are there to discourage drivers from getting into potentially dangerous situations and to allow them an opportunity to gain the essential driving experience in a relatively safe driving environment.
Those who got a drivers license years ago probably remember their first days on the road - scared of other cars, afraid to crash into someone, people around driving at higher speed and you simply wishing you were the only person on the road so you had time to stop and think what to do next. These feelings are experienced by almost every new driver who gets behind the wheel. Although driving is a fun activity, it is also very stressful and requires a driver to possess quite some skills. Just entering a highway on a vehicle with a manual transmission may require you to take over 30 different actions over a matter of seconds. You have to adjust your speed to the speed of the traffic, watch for other cars, estimate the distance to the end of the acceleration lane, shift gears and you have to do all these things simultaneously if you don't want to impede anyone or cause a traffic accident. Experience is what makes these things easy, in fact, you won't even notice yourself taking all these actions, for you it will be just a regular procedure of merging into traffic, your body and mind have sufficient experience make these things seamless. Experience is what all new drivers don't have and that's where the permit restrictions come into play - they prevent new drivers from getting into potentially dangerous situations and driving in complex on-road conditions.
The situation is even worse when teenage drivers come into the picture. In addition to lacking any driving experience, teenage drivers also tend to overestimate their driving skills and display risk taking behavior. This is why in addition to the regular permit restrictions, teenage drivers also have to abide to the Indiana graduated drivers license rules. The graduated license program applies only to drivers who are under 18 years of age and it features a multi-step licensing procedure. Instead of granting a teenager with full driving privileges, the BMV has the applicant to go through a number of intermediate stages, such as a learners permit, probationary drivers license and finally - a full Indiana drivers license once the applicant turns 18.
Indiana Drivers Education Permit Restrictions
If you have an Indiana drivers education permit, you must make sure to observe the permit rules at all times. Until you complete your Indiana drivers ed class and get your permit validated, you can only drive with a licensed parent/legal guardian or your drivers ed instructor. Once you complete drivers ed and get your permit validated at the BMV, you can drive with any licensed driver who is at least 21 years old. Everyone present in the vehicle must wear a seat belt.
If you drop out from your drivers education class, your permit is canceled.
The reason why you may want to apply for this permit type is because it can help you get your license sooner and you might be able to avoid taking a driving test at the BMV. Most of the certified drivers ed providers can give you the drivers test as part of the class curriculum. However, you must pass your Indiana permit test the first time you take it or the driving test waiver is invalid. Make sure you are well prepared for the permit test before you go in, you can take a few Indiana permit practice tests to see where you stand right now.
Learners Permit Restrictions
If you are applying for a regular learners permit, you will need to observe the following Indiana permit restrictions:
- Drivers under the age of 18 - driving allowed only when supervised by a licensed parent, legal guardian or a licensed driver 21 years old or older.
- Drivers over the age of 18 - driving allowed only while supervised by a licensed driver.
You are not allowed to drive alone no matter what the circumstances are. Driving without a supervising driver will see your driving privileges suspended.
Drivers under the age of 18 must hold an Indiana learners permit for at least 180 days and be at least 16 years, 180 days old with drivers ed and 16 years, 270 days old without drivers ed, prior to applying for a probationary license. Drivers over the age of 18 can apply for a full Indiana drivers license whenever they are ready to take a drivers test.
Probationary License Restrictions
If you are under 18 years of age, fulfilled the graduated license requirements of previous stages and passed your permit and license tests, you are issued with a probationary drivers license. The probationary driver license allows you to drive alone, but it still holds the following restrictions:
- Passenger restrictions. For the first 90 days following the issuance of a license, no passengers are allowed to be in the vehicle unless a supervising driver who is at least 21 years old is seated in the font seat.
- Seat belts. Seat belts must be worn by all vehicle occupants.
You can read detailed information about the probationary license in the Indiana drivers manual. The restrictions will be lifted once the driver reaches the age of 18.
