What Joshua's Law Requires, Stage by Stage

Joshua's Law was passed in Georgia in 2005 after the death of Joshua Brown, a teenager killed in a car crash. His parents pushed for a state requirement that new drivers get real, structured training instead of learning almost entirely on their own — and the law that resulted has measurably changed how Georgia prepares teen drivers.

The law requires anyone under 18 applying for a Georgia license to complete an approved driver education course — either a classroom/behind-the-wheel program or a certified online course like this one — before they can move through the state's Graduated Driver's License (GDL) system.

The three GDL stages

• Class D Learner's Permit (age 15+): Requires passing the written knowledge test and vision screening. All driving must be supervised by a licensed adult.
• Class D License (age 16+): Requires holding the permit at least 12 months violation-free, logging 40 hours of supervised driving (6 of them at night), and passing the road skills test. Comes with nighttime and passenger restrictions.
• Class C Full License (age 18): Full, unrestricted driving privileges once the teen has driven violation-free through the Class D stage.

Each stage exists for a reason: crash risk for 16-year-olds is highest in the first months of solo driving, at night, and with multiple teen passengers in the car. The restrictions specifically target those risk windows.

Key Takeaways

• Joshua's Law requires an approved driver education course before a Georgia teen can get a license.
• The GDL system has three stages: Class D Permit (15+), Class D License (16+), Class C Full License (18).
• Each stage has specific requirements: written test, 40 supervised hours, 12 violation-free months, and the road skills test.
• Restrictions exist to target the specific conditions where teen crash risk is statistically highest.