Creating house rules for your teenage new driver

L Restrictions

• Qualified supervisor
  Your teen must be accompanied by a supervisor who is 25 or older and has a valid driver's licence (Class 1/2/3/4 or 5). He or she must sit beside your teen in the front passenger seat.
• Passenger restriction
  Your teen may carry a maximum of two passengers: a licensed adult supervisor and one other person.
• Driving hours
  Your teen may drive only between 5 a.m. and midnight.
• L sign
  When driving, your teen must display a red L (learner) sign (PDF). The sign alerts others that you're a new driver so they can give you more space.
• Zero blood-alcohol content
  There must be no alcohol in your teen’s body when driving.
• No cellphone use 
  Use of hands-free and hand-held cellphones or other portable electronic devices is prohibited

Suggested L stage house rules

• Cannot drive after dark initially. (L stage prohibits driving after midnight. You may wish to extend this restriction to prohibit all night driving.) As your teen gains experience and more skills, allow practicing after dark, before midnight.
• All occupants must use seatbelts
• Don’t overload the car or allow passengers to ride in the back of a truck
• No eating or drinking while driving
• Agrees to make safe choices when weather conditions are less than ideal
• Phone parent if unable to or not comfortable driving for any reason

N Restrictions

• N sign
  We will issue your teen a green N (Novice) sign (PDF). This replaces the L sign. When driving, your teen must display the N sign at the back of the vehicle so drivers behind can see it.
• No drinking and driving
  There must be no alcohol in your teen driver’s body
• Carry only one passenger
  Your teen is limited to one passenger unless they have a supervisor 25 years or older with a valid Class 1/2/3/4 or 5 driver's licence. This restriction does not apply to immediate family members: mother, father, sister, brother, child, spouse, grandparent; including step and foster relationships.
• No cellphone use 
  Use of hands-free and hand-held cellphones or other portable electronic devices is prohibited

Suggested N stage house rules

– first 6 months

• You may wish to keep some of the L stage restrictions for an additional period
• Cannot drive after dark, unless with parent
• Cannot drive east of _______ / cannot drive on the highway / cannot drive off-road, etc. Agree on areas or conditions where your teen will not drive.
• No eating, drinking or cell-phone use while driving
• Agrees to make safe choices when weather conditions are less than ideal
• Phone parent if unable to/not comfortable driving for any reason

Suggested N stage house rules

– remaining 18 months

• Can drive after dark on specific occasions, subject to parental permission
• Cannot drive east of _______ / cannot drive on the highway / cannot drive off-road, etc. Agree on areas or conditions where your teen will not drive.
• All occupants must use seatbelts
• No eating, drinking or cell-phone use while driving
• Phone parent if unable to or not comfortable driving for any reason

Suggested class 5 license house rules

• Can drive with two passengers; or three with parental permission
• Can drive after dark, with parental permission
• All occupants must use seatbelts
• No alcohol or drugs
• No eating, drinking or cellphone use while driving
• Phone parent if unable to/not comfortable driving for any reason