Source: Alliance of American Insurers; American Insurance Association; National Association of Independent Insurers; Insurance Information Institute.

*Legislation creating the no-fault system will expire on June 30, 2003.

(1) �Choice� no-fault state. Policyholder can choose a policy based on the no-fault system or traditional tort liability. (2) Verbal threshold for the Basic Liability Policy and the Standard Policy where the policyholder chooses no-fault. The Basic Policy contains lower amounts of coverage. (3) The District of Columbia is neither a true no-fault nor add-on state. Drivers are offered the option of no-fault or fault-based coverage, but in the event of an accident a driver who originally chose no-fault benefits has 60 days to decide whether to receive those benefits or file a claim against the other party.

Source: American Insurance Association.

(1) Surveys used by states must be actual observation of shoulder belt use by drivers and front seat passengers. (2) Primary enforcement means police may stop a vehicle and issue a fine for noncompliance with seat belt laws. In other states, the law provides for secondary enforcement. This means that police may issue a fine for not wearing a seat belt only if the vehicle has been stopped for other traffic violations. (3) Applies to motor vehicle operators and passengers who are 16 years and older. Damage mitigation means that a violation may result in damages, a legal term meaning court awarded compensation for injury, being reduced up to a certain percentage. Fines are the maximum allowed by law. 

NA=Data Not Available.

(1) Blood alcohol level defining �driving while intoxicated.� (2) On-the-spot driver�s license suspension or revocation if blood alcohol content (BAC) is over the level in column 1 or the driver refuses to take a BAC test. (3) Mandatory penalty for violation of the implied consent law, which means that drivers who refuse to take a breath alcohol test when stopped or arrested for drunk driving will have their license revoked or suspended. (4) Prohibits unsealed alcohol containers in motor vehicle passenger compartments for all occupants. Arresting officer not required to witness consumption. (5) Applies only to the driver. (6) With limitations or conditions. (7) Not a per se law, i.e., having the BAC level in column 1 is not automatic grounds for administrative license revocation but is "permissible inference" of drunk driving. (8) Not specifically for drunk driving; Attorney General has established a no plea bargain policy.

*Effective September 30, 2003.
**Effective July 1, 2003.

(1) Periodic retests.  Some states will waive vision retests for mail renewal or clean-record drivers. (2) Physicians must report physical conditions that might impair driving skills. (3) Retesting only for cause, e.g., after specific number of accidents or other points and infractions, for specific physical conditions; sometimes at examiner�s discretion. (4) Specifically requires doctors to report a diagnosis of dementia. (5) 8-year vision re-examination. (6) Vision tests are required at first renewal at age 40; at every second renewal after age 40; at every renewal after age 62. (7) Except for in-state renewals by mail, unless applicant is over 70. (8) Renewing by mail. (9) Ten percent of all renewals are screened. (10) Ten percent of drivers at or over 45 randomly chosen for medical and/or vision test.  (11) Random re-examination at specified age. (12) Will retest at renewal for non-specified cause.

Source:  U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration; American Association of Retired Persons; American Automobile Association; American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

(1) Designed to aid young novice drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 gain driving experience.  To date they apply only to drivers under the age of 18 except for lower BAC laws.

(2) Graduated licensing as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Stage 1: Learner's permit required.  Other recommended components are that the driver pass vision and knowledge tests; must drive with a licensed adult age 21 or older; all occupants must wear seat belts; blood alcohol content (BAC) set at zero or near zero (see footnote 5); driver must be traffic-offense and alcohol-offense free to move up to the next stage; permit's appearance is distinctive from other licenses.  Stage 2 (Intermediate or Provisional): Driver must complete stage 1; must pass a road test; all occupants must wear seat belts; BAC set at zero or near zero; licensed adult required in the vehicle during late night hours; driver must be traffic-offense and alcohol-offense free for 12 months to obtain a regular license.  Stage 3: Full license.

(3) Vary by state with regard to age of driver, night hours that driving is restricted, and who must accompany driver during night hours.  Exceptions may be made for work, school activities or emergencies.

(4) Limits the number of passengers a young driver may have in the vehicle to eliminate distractions for an inexperienced driver. 

(5) Specifies that a driver under age 21 can be convicted of drunk driving if found driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the level shown.  Conventional BACs for older drivers are generally between 0.08 and 0.10.

(6) Applies to drivers age 18 and under.

(7) If license applicant is 16 then mandatory holding period in learner stage is 60 days. If license applicant is 17 then mandatory holding period in learner stage is 30 days. License applicants younger than 18 must have completed driver education if it is available in the public school or, if unavailable, must complete 50 hours of supervised driving in addition to that required in the learner stage.

(8) New Hampshire does not issue learner's permits.  The minimum holding period refers to the intermediate license for 16-and 17-year-olds for the first 3 months only.

(9) Effective September 2003. 

(10) For the first six months after a learner's permit is issued.  Thereafter there are no restrictions.

(11) Applies to drivers age 19 and under.

Sources:  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS); U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; National Conference of State Legislatures; Insurance Information Institute.