NJ Student Drivers Now Have New Requirements

NEW JERSEY — Student drivers in the Garden State must now log a minimum of 50 hours of supervised practice before they get their license, under a new law that went into effect Sunday.

This new law applies to any student driver under the age of 21 who was issued a special learner's permit or examination permit on or after Feb. 1. Ten of the required hours must be completed at night, and a parent, guardian, or supervising driver must sign a form certifying that the student completed the minimum number of hours.

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will oversee enforcement of the law, which some young students advocated for in the Statehouse last year. Road safety advocates also pushed for the practice requirement, saying it would reduce risks and enhance driver safety across the board.

In 2022, there were 53 confirmed fatal traffic crashes involving young drivers in New Jersey, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Before the enactment of the law, New Jersey was one of the three states, besides Arkansas and Mississippi, that did not have any practice hours requirement.

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