azkids2teens Driving
Arizona Teen Driver
Welcome to Arizona Teen Driver, a single resource for both parents and teens
drivers. Here you will find out the facts for getting a driver's permit, license,
driver education, defensive driving techniques, insurance, car facts, and other
useful information. We want our teens to be safe and confident drivers. The
leading cause of death of Arizona teens 15 to 20 years old is car crashes. The
number one habit that saves lives is wearing a seat belt. So, please set an
example and insist that all passengers buckle up all the time!
Licensing FAQ's
1. When can a teen get a driver's license?
A driver must be at least 15 years and 7 months old and pass the written exam
to receive a class G driver's permit. A permit must be held for at least 5 months.
The earliest age that a teen can receive a class G driver's license is 16.
2. What kind of testing is done?
You will need to pass a written exam and vision test for a driver's permit.
When seeking a driver's license you will have a road test unless you have taken
a qualified driver's education course.
3. Do I need my parents permission?
If you are under 18 years old, a parent or legal guardian must sign the legal
guardian section on the driver license application. You will need 2 forms of
identification such as a original birth certificate and social security card.
You will need to provide your social security number.
4. Where can I get the Arizona Driver's license manual?
You can pick up a free copy from your local Motor Vehicles Department. For MVD
locations, and to download the manual, please go to MVD
5. Where can I get answers to more questions?
Visit www.dot.state.az.us/mvd
and Law for Kids
Graduated Driver's Licensing
Arizona, like many other states has a GDL or Graduated Driver Licensing law for teens under 18 years old. In January of 2004 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated Arizona's GDL laws as "poor" among all fifty states. Although the current law is not as restrictive as other states such as California, it is designed to phase in driving privileges as a young driver develops skills and maturity. Sixteen year old drivers have the highest number of crashes of any age group. States with strict GDL laws such as limiting the number of passengers or late night driving restrictions for 15 to 17 years olds, have shown a significant improvement in reducing teen crashes and fatalities.
In Arizona, a class G license is issued to a driver under 18 if he or she has passed the exam, taken an approved drivers education course, or has had at least 25 hours of supervised driving ( 5 hours at night) with a class D licensed driver. A class D licensed driver is at least 18 years old.
Although not mandatory, a parent can adopt some of the stricter guidelines
of GDL for their teens. Some recommendations are:
1. Set a minimum of 50 to 100 (20 at night) hours of supervised driving. Let
your teen drive you everywhere and in different weather conditions. Start with
a parking lot, then quiet streets, busier streets, the freeway, and night driving.
2. After your teen has received his or her driver's license continue to include
some supervised driving, but also set some restrictions on night time driving
and the number of passengers in the vehicle. Set a curfew for night driving
and remember that statistically the risk of car crashes and death increases
significantly as the number of passengers goes up.
The states that were rated "good" by the Insurance Instiitute for
Highway Safety for their GDL laws included the following measures:
1. A minimum of 6 months during the learning phase.
2. Night time curfew of 10pm or earlier until 5am.
3. No more than one passenger when driving unsupervised.
4. Issuance of an unrestricted driver's license at age 17.
Driver's Education
It may come as a surprise to many parents that driver's eduation classes in
public schools has been on the decline over the past 10 years. Many school districts
have opted to close these classes because of budget constraints. We highly recommend
that students take a course in driver's education. The public school programs
are more comprehensive because of the number of hours that is spent in class.
Because of the hours, students can earn a 1/2 credit towards high school graduation.
If your school district does not offer a program, look into a summer program
outside your district or consider one of the many state licensed private driving
schools. Summer school programs usually charge a fee.
Other schools to consider are defensive driving and advanced driving schools
that can better prepare a student for emergencies that will not be experienced
in a classroom or in regular behind the wheel driving. Some of these schools
use state of the art simulators that police use for practice and others are
held on a racetrack where students can practice crash avoidance.
Lastly, Traffic Survival School for those with ticket citations can be an excellent
refresher and safety course.
High School Driver's Education Programs (class G/D)
| School | City | Phone |
| Apache Junction HS | Apache Junction | 480 982-1110 |
| Basha HS | Chandler | 480 224-2100 |
| Chandler HS | Chandler | 480 812-7826 |
| Hamilton HS | Chandler | 480 883-5000 |
| Gilbert HS | Gilbert | 480 497-0177 |
| Highland HS | Gilbert | 480 813-0051 |
| Higley HS |
Gilbert | 480 279-7300 |
| Mesquite HS | Gilbert | 480 632-4750 |
| Cactus HS | Glendale | 623 412-5000 |
| Deer Valley HS | Glendale | 602 467-6743 |
| Ironwood HS | Glendale | 623 486-6400 |
| Mountain Ridge HS | Glendale | 623 376-3000 |
| Dobson HS | Mesa | 480 472-3051 |
| Mesa HS | Mesa | 480 472-5903 |
| Mountain View HS |
Mesa | 480 472-6900 |
| Red Mountain HS |
Mesa | 480 472-8230 |
| Skyline HS | Mesa | 480 472-9400 |
| Westwood HS | Mesa | 480 472-4400 |
| Peoria HS | Peoria | 623 486-6300 |
| Sunrise Mountain HS | Peoria | 623 487-5125 |
| Mountain Point HS | Phoenix | 480 759-8449 |
| Paradise Valley HS | Phoenix | 602 867-5505 |
| Phoenix Job Corps | Phoenix | 602 254-5921 |
| Phoenix Special Programs | Phoenix | 602 674-5555 |
| Pinnacle HS | Phoenix | 480 419-4409 |
| Westwind Academy | Phoenix | 602 864-7731 |
| Third Party Driver Services (Admin) | Phoenix | 602 712-7173 |
| Shadow Mountain HS | Phoenix | 602 867-5300 |
| Marcos De Niza HS | Tempe | 480 838-3200 |
| McClintock HS | Tempe | 480 839-4222 |
| Tempe HS | Tempe | 480 967-1661 |
Private Driving Schools
Private driving schools offer many options that can be more convenient for
students. For behind the wheel training some schools will have the instructors
pick up the students from their homes and return them after the session is completed.
Although flexible and more convenient, private driving schools have a fee that
is usually higher than public summer school programs. The following schools
are licensed by the State of Arizona.
| School | City | Phone |
| AAA Sun Valley Driving School | Laveen | 602 908-1000 |
| ABC Driving Schools Inc. | Phoenix | 602 272-1908 |
| Desert Driving School |
Scottsdale | 480 515-9837 |
| Northstar School of Driving LLC | Phoenix | 602 942-4711 |
| Institute for Drivers Safety Inc. | Tempe | 480 921-8834 |
| Affordable Stop and Go Driving Schools | Mesa | 480 969-9606 |
| All-Metro School of Driving LLC |
Goodyear | 623 875-7947 |
| International Driving School | Phoenix | 602 363-5327 |
| Arizona Driving and Traffic Survival School | Chandler | 480 857-4000 |
| N Control Driving School LLC | Gilbert | 480 857-3055 |
| Securedrive | Scottsdale | 480 998-7242 |
| Southwest Tutorial & Consult F/TDeaf | Phoenix | 602 553-0622 |
| Law Enforcement Driving School | Chandler | 480 829-1400 |
Advanced/Defensive Driving Schools
There has been a growing need to provide more advanced and defensive driving
techniques for teen drivers. These schools are not licensed driving schools
in the traditional sense by the State of Arizona because they do not cover the
full spectrum of classroom and behind the wheel training. Two local schools
have specific courses that reinforce safety, advanced training and defensive
driving.
Located in Scottsdale, Driving MBA, provides state-of-the-art technology with
their driving simulators. These simulators have been used by police for driver
training. The simulators can put the driver in all types of weather conditions
such as fog or snow, and can simulate scenarios such as tire blowout, child
darting into street, or a car crash ahead. As airline pilots train on cockpit
simulators to prepare for crises and emergencies, students can be prepared and
trained to face behind the wheel crises and emergencies as well.
What does car racing have to do with safe driving? Race car drivers are the
safest drivers in the world because of their profession. Traveling at speeds
over 100 mph drivers have learned how to get out of skids, avoid crashes, and
maintain control of their vehicles.
The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving has a teen program that teaches young people how to avoid crashes and road hazards ahead when travelling at high speeds, how to maintain control, how to get out of a skids, and many defensive driving manuevers. Students actually get behind the wheel on a race track speed, brake, turn, and accelerate. Students experience first hand what it is like to lose control of a car and how to correct properly. By far the costliest form of driving school, the skills taught can help save teen lives which is invaluable.
Traffic Survival Schools
An unfortunate consequence of breaking the traffic laws, such as speeding, usually results in a ticket that is costly and has points attached. Some violations can have points waived if the offender attends and completes a traffic survival school. Not attending traffic school can increase your insurance premiums considerably. If you accumulate 8 or more points within any 12 month period, you may be required to attend traffic school or your license may be suspended for up to 12 months.
| Violation | Points |
| DUI | 8 |
| Reckless driving | 8 |
| Racing on highways | 8 |
| Aggressive driving | 8 |
| Leaving the scene of accident | 8 |
| Failure to stop for traffic signal, stop signs, or yield right of way, causing death | 6 |
| Failure to stop for traffic signal, stop signs, or yield right of way, causing serious injury | 4 |
| Speeding | 3 |
| All other moving violations | 2 |
There are many traffic survival schools to choose from and one that is AAA approved for an on-line program. Prices vary so please call and check a licensed Traffic Survival School near you.