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Tennessee driving lesson · Your License & the Exams

GDL curfews, passengers & phones

A 3-minute lesson from the Tennessee course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Your License & the Exams
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
32, 33

Most teen crashes happen at night and with friends in the car, so the GDL limits both. Distractions like loud music, friends in other cars and showing off make things worse — you're steering a 5,000-pound machine.

GDL night-driving limits

GDL night-driving limits
LicenseMay NOT drive between
Learner permit10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Intermediate Restricted11 p.m. and 6 a.m. (exceptions below)
Intermediate UnrestrictedNo time restrictions
Handbook p. 33 ↗

Intermediate Restricted drivers may drive 11 p.m.–6 a.m. only if:

  • A parent or guardian is with them
  • A licensed driver 21+ designated in writing by the parent is with them (letter carried)
  • Going to/from a named school-sponsored event, with written parent permission
  • Going to/from work, with written parent permission naming the workplace
  • Going to/from hunting or fishing 4–6 a.m. with a valid hunting or fishing license
Handbook p. 33 ↗

Know the rule

Intermediate license holders may carry only 1 other passenger — unless a passenger is 21 or older with a valid unrestricted license, or the passengers are siblings, step-siblings, or adopted or foster children living in the same home and the driver carries a parent's letter for school trips.

Handbook p. 33 ↗

Know the rule

An Intermediate Restricted driver convicted of carrying a forged or fraudulent letter has the license revoked and gets only a learner permit until age 18.

Handbook p. 33 ↗

Know the rule

Any driver with a learner permit or intermediate license is banned from using a cell phone while driving on any Tennessee road.

Handbook p. 32 ↗

Phone penalties

Phone penalties
ViolationPenalty
Minor using a cell phone while driving$50 fine and 6 points
Texting while driving (any age, since July 1, 2009)Fine up to $50 plus court costs up to $10
Handbook p. 32 ↗

Know the rule

Wearing headphones or earbuds, or playing the radio so loud you can't hear horns or sirens, is extremely dangerous.

Handbook p. 32 ↗

Work zone tips for teen drivers

  • Slow down to the posted, usually reduced, limit
  • Don't tailgate — most work zone crashes are rear-end collisions
  • Put down the phone and leave the radio alone
  • Merge early — last-chance mergers can be ticketed
  • Obey flaggers; don't change lanes in the zone unless told to
  • Turn your headlights on before you enter the zone
Handbook p. 32 ↗
4 out of 5

Share of highway work zone deaths who are drivers, not workers

Handbook p. 32 ↗

Put it into practice

You're 16 with an Intermediate Restricted license and your shift ends at 10:45 p.m. Driving home at 11:15 is legal only if you carry written permission from your parent naming your workplace. Picking up a friend on the way would also break the one-passenger rule.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

An Intermediate Restricted License holder is generally prohibited from driving between:
  1. 10 P.M. and 6 A.M.
  2. Midnight and 5 A.M.
  3. 11 P.M. and 6 A.M.
  4. 9 P.M. and 6 A.M.

Answer: 11 P.M. and 6 A.M.

Intermediate Restricted License holders are prohibited from driving between 11 P.M. and 6 A.M. except under specific exceptions.

Handbook p. 33 ↗
Besides a parent or guardian, who else may legally accompany an Intermediate Restricted License holder during restricted night hours?
  1. Any friend with a valid driver license
  2. A sibling who also holds an Intermediate license
  3. No one else is ever permitted
  4. A licensed driver 21 or older designated in writing by the parent or guardian

Answer: A licensed driver 21 or older designated in writing by the parent or guardian

A licensed driver 21 or older who has been designated in writing by the parent or guardian may accompany the teen during restricted hours.

Handbook p. 33 ↗
In general, how many passengers may ride with a driver who holds an Intermediate license?
  1. 1
  2. 0
  3. 2
  4. 4

Answer: 1

Intermediate license holders may generally carry only 1 other passenger, unless a passenger is 21+ with an unrestricted license or the sibling school-trip exception applies.

Handbook p. 33 ↗
An Intermediate Restricted driver is convicted of carrying a forged letter of parental permission. What happens?
  1. 90 days are added before the Unrestricted license
  2. License revoked; learner permit only until age 18
  3. An approved driver education class is required
  4. A $50 fine and 6 points on the record

Answer: License revoked; learner permit only until age 18

A driver with an Intermediate Restricted License convicted of having a forged or fraudulent letter has the license revoked and is reissued only a learner permit until age 18.

Handbook p. 33 ↗
Tennessee law prohibits drivers holding a learner permit or intermediate license from doing what while driving?
  1. Driving on an interstate highway
  2. Driving with one passenger
  3. Using a cell phone
  4. Driving with the radio on

Answer: Using a cell phone

Tennessee law prohibits any driver holding a learner permit or intermediate license from using a cell phone while driving.

Handbook p. 32 ↗
A minor caught using a cell phone while driving on a learner permit faces which penalty?
  1. A $10 fine and 3 points
  2. A $50 fine and 3 points
  3. A $100 fine and 6 points
  4. A $50 fine and 6 points

Answer: A $50 fine and 6 points

Violating the cell phone ban as a permit or intermediate license holder results in a $50 fine and 6 points on the driving record.

Handbook p. 32 ↗
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