Young Drivers at Work

What we know

Young workers age 16 to 24 are developing their driving skills and gaining experience. They may be less likely than older drivers to recognize and respond to risks on the road.

• Young drivers age 16 to 24 have the highest rates of involvement in fatal and injury-producing crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers, in the general population.1
• From 2011-2022, 1,550 workers age 16 to 24 died in motor vehicle crashes at work, accounting for 35% of all work-related deaths in this age group.2

Age restrictions

Young workers' driving restrictions on the job vary by age.3

• Workers age 16 and under in non-agricultural jobs may not drive for work.
• Workers age 17 may drive in non-agricultural jobs but are limited by time and task.
• Generally, workers age 18 to 24 are allowed to drive on the job, but those under age 21 may not drive a commercial motor vehicle across state lines.

17-year-old workers

17-year-old workers may drive on public roads on an occasional basis as part of their job if they:

• Successfully complete a state-approved driver education course
• Have a valid state driver's license
• Have no record of moving violations (e.g., speeding) at the time of hire
• Drive a vehicle that does not exceed 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight and is equipped with seat belts for all occupants

17-year-old workers may not drive as their main job duty or:

• Make urgent or time-sensitive deliveries, such as pizza deliveries
• Make route deliveries or route sales
• Tow another vehicle
• Drive more than a 30-mile radius from the primary place of work
• Be hired to transport goods or passengers
• Transport more than 3 passengers, including employees of the employer
• Make more than 2 trips away from the primary place of work in any single day to transport goods and other employees

Driving time limits

Federal child labor laws limit the amount of driving 17-year-old workers can do in non-agricultural jobs.4 Laws that cover agricultural jobs apply only to workers under age 16.

Driving time may not exceed 33% of the workday and is limited to daylight hours. Also, driving time may not exceed 20% of the workweek. View examples of driving time limits. Check your state's child labor laws for possible additional restrictions.5

Tips for employers

Use recommended strategies to develop programs and policies that follow safe-driving laws for young workers.

Before hiring a young worker to drive:

• Check that the applicant has a state license valid for the type of driving their work will require.
• Check the applicant's driving record for moving violations, impaired driving, and license suspensions.
• Make sure the applicant has completed a state-approved driver education course (if the driver is under age 18).

Before assigning a young worker to drive:

• Make sure the driving assignment follows state graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws (e.g., restrictions on night driving and transporting other teens).
• Provide driver training at the time of hire that includes making young drivers aware of the safety features of the vehicle they will be driving.
• For less-experienced drivers, consider implementing policies that are more restrictive than the requirements outlined in laws (e.g., limitations on towing a trailer or driving certain types of vehicles).

Tips for parents

Take the following actions to model safe-driving behaviors and discuss driving expectations.

• Schedule on-the-road driving sessions to assess driving skills. Help your young driver learn to recognize traffic risks, anticipate risky situations, and quickly spot developing problems.
• Familiarize yourself with child labor laws that limit young workers' driving on the job and share this information with your young driver. Learn about state graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws that may affect your young driver's ability to drive for work in some situations. GDL restrictions are designed to keep less-experienced drivers safe.
• Discuss driving-related tasks involved in your young worker's job. Ask if their employer has policies, procedures, and job training for the safe operation of motor vehicles. If these have not been discussed or provided to your young driver, make sure they ask their supervisor for guidance.

Resources

Young Drivers in the Workplace NIOSH Publication No. 2017-207