A driver’s permit grants provisional driving privileges, allowing individuals to legally operate a vehicle under specific restrictions. These restrictions typically include the mandatory presence of a licensed driver, often with a minimum age and experience requirement, occupying the passenger seat. This supervised driving period aims to provide novice drivers with practical experience and guidance before they obtain full driving privileges. For example, a learner’s permit might allow supervised driving during daylight hours only.
Supervised driving is a critical component of driver education. It provides learners with real-world experience navigating traffic, making decisions under pressure, and developing safe driving habits under the watchful eye of a more experienced driver. This gradual transition to independent driving promotes road safety by mitigating risks associated with inexperienced drivers. Historically, graduated driver licensing systems, which incorporate learner’s permits and supervised driving, have been shown to reduce crashes among new drivers.