Being a first time driver can be a stressful time for anyone, no matter your age. Beyond everything that goes into preparing to ace your driver’s test, you may still have lingering questions or doubts for when you’re behind the wheel.
At Berry Insurance, we are always happy to help new drivers navigate their many questions and ensure they’re fully covered by their auto insurance policy.
So, if you’ve recently gotten your driver’s license or are preparing for your upcoming test, keep reading to learn all about the most important rules and top tips new drivers should know before hitting the road.
1. Rules when driving with a permit
If you’ve only recently started driving and are still operating under a learner’s permit, there are still important rules you’ll need to follow when operating a vehicle.
In Massachusetts, any driver with a permit must adhere to the following rules:
- The permit holder must have the learner’s permit with them when driving.
- The permit holder may not operate in another state if it is a violation of that state’s laws.
- A permit holder who is under 18 years of age may not operate a vehicle unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian above the age of 21, who is licensed with at least a year’s worth of driving experience and is not currently revoked or suspended.
Always be sure to follow these rules when operating a vehicle with a learner’s permit. To learn more about learner’s permits, how they’re covered by insurance, and what to do if you’re in an accident, read this guide: What Happens if My Child Gets in an Accident with Their Permit?
2. Know the junior operator license (JOL) rules
A junior operator license (JOL) are drivers licenses issued to young drivers between the ages of 16 ½ and 18 years old.
In order to obtain a JOL, the driver must meet certain requirements in addition to those of a standard driver’s license. These include:
- Have a valid learner’s permit and maintain a clean driving record for at least 6 consecutive months before taking a road test. (Any suspension will invalidate the permit and the 6 month period will begin again after the suspension has ended.)
- Successfully completed a driver's education course, including 30 hours of classroom instruction, 12 hours of in-car, behind-the-wheel training; and 6 hours of in-car observation of other student drivers.
- Complete 40 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel driving, certified by a parent or guardian.
- A parent or guardian must also participate in 2 hours of instruction on the driver’s education course (unless they have completed it within the past 5 years).
- Pass the final driving exam.
However, once a junior operator license is obtained, there are still rules and restrictions which operators must follow until they turn 18.
While they can operate a vehicle unsupervised, junior operators are restricted from:
- Carrying passengers under the age of 18 (except for their own siblings) during the first six months of obtaining their junior operators license. This is meant to reduce the number of distractions an inexperienced driver may face.
- Similar to some permit rules, junior operators are not to drive between 12:30 AM and 5:00 AM, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. This is due to higher accident rates among teen drivers late at night when they may be drowsy, speed, or take more risks behind the wheel.
It’s also important for any junior operator to be aware that they will face steeper consequences if they are found to have broken these or other laws while driving. Depending on the violation, junior operators may have their license suspended and must pay a reinstatement fee, complete a retraining course, or take a full exam including retakes of the learner’s permit exam and road test.
For more information on junior operator violations and penalties, refer to this guide on Mass.gov
3. Insurance is mandatory
Before venturing out on the open road, all drivers will need to be covered under an auto insurance policy. Massachusetts law prohibits you from driving without insurance - so you will need to be covered by your parents/guardians’ policy or purchase one for yourself.
Each state will have their own minimum required coverages for auto insurance policies, as well as optional coverages and endorsements policyholders can add for additional fees. To learn everything about required coverages in Massachusetts as well as what we recommend for policyholders, read this article: How Much Car Insurance Do I Need? (And Why the State Minimum Isn’t Enough).
If you obtain your driver’s or junior operator license, you or your parents will need to contact your insurance agent or provider within 60 days to add you onto their existing policy. Our team at Berry always recommends that clients tell their agent as soon as someone has passed their road test, so they can be added to the policy right away. Since insurers typically view new drivers (especially teen drivers) as a greater risk, adding them to an existing policy will usually increase the policy premium - sometimes significantly.
Wondering if teen drivers should acquire their own auto insurance policy separate from their parents/guardians? Read our thoughts here: Should Teen Drivers Have Their Own Car Insurance?
4. Phones down!
An important tip for drivers of any age is to silence or put away your cellphone while driving! Simply put, your life or others is never worth checking a text or changing a song.
Rear-end collisions rank as one of the most common auto insurance claims drivers are likely to experience. These typically occur when drivers are driving too fast or are distracted behind the wheel. Glancing down at your phone even briefly takes your eyes away from the road and could leave you blind to other vehicles or obstacles.
Additionally, Massachusetts's hands-free law prohibits drivers from using electronic devices while driving, unless the device is in hands-free mode. If you are found breaking this law, you could find yourself having to pay fines, complete mandatory distracted driving educational programs, receive an insurance surcharge, and more.
5. Know what to do after an accident
Lets face it, even the most careful drivers are bound to find themselves in an accident at some point. That's why it's just crucial for every driver to be prepared and informed on how to respond/react when they find themselves in a car accident.
After being in an accident, drivers should stay calm and follow these 6 steps:
- Get yourself to safety: If you are able, pull your vehicle to the side of the road or to a safe area where you and other drivers won’t get additionally injured. You should also put on your vehicle's hazard lights to signal for other drivers to go around your vehicle.
- Check yourself for injuries: Check yourself and any passengers for potential injuries from the accident. If you, your passengers, or anyone else is injured, be sure to immediately alert emergency services.
- Dial 911: While you are not required to report accidents to police, calling 911 after an accident can be helpful - especially if anyone involved requires medical attention. Having police on the scene can also help collect statements and generate reports.
- Collect information: Record as much information about the accident as you can. This includes the other driver's contact/insurance info, date and time of the accident, weather and road conditions, injuries, obstructions, and any other important information regarding the accident.
- Take photos: In addition to collecting information, be sure to take photos of everything for documentation. This includes damages to both vehicles, damaged property, road obstacles, or hazardous road conditions.
- Contact your agent or carrier: Regardless of fault, it’s always a good idea to alert your insurance agent or provider following an accident. They can help you through the claims process and answer any questions regarding the accident.
To always keep track of what to do post-accident, download and print our helpful auto accident checklist. It walks through every step and gives you a place to write everything down - keeping you focused even in stressful situations.
Staying ahead of the curb
Welcome to your new life as a driver! However, driving yourself can be just as frustrating as it is freeing - making it extra important to be as prepared as possible. Now that you know all about our own top tips and the most important rules, you can venture forth knowing you’re the most prepared driver on the roads - or at least the most well read!
If you’re looking for ways to save on your policy after adding a new driver, read on guide on surefire ways to save money on your car insurance policy.
For more help on living with new teen drivers, download our guide below on everything to do once your child is licensed:
