How long have I been a new driver?

If there is something that no driver can skip, it is the time in which he is a new driver. A period during which we are subjected to certain limitations when driving, which should be known so as not to suffer from easily avoidable sanctions.

When we leave the driving school, we all know what clearance lights are, how a car battery is maintained, who to yield to at a crossroads with a dirt road and many other issues of the highway code. However, what we probably don’t know yet, or not at all, is how to move safely on the road without having our instructor by our side. 

Precisely for this reason there is the figure of the novice driver. A step that we cannot skip and that establishes certain limitations and obligations during our first days behind the wheel. Something necessary until we manage to develop our skills and that helps us to gain safety, both our own and that of other road users.

What is a new driver

A novice driver is one who has just gotten his driver’s license. This period extends during the first year of its validity. During all this time, the driver will be subject to a series of limitations and obligations related to his behavior behind the wheel, although in practice these are not issues that involve serious limitations. In fact, these functions do not limit driving times, distances or the hours during which the novel can circulate. However, we will analyze the topic in detail in the next section.

Limitations and obligations of the novice driver

Currently, there are a series of limitations that involve novice drivers, affecting the way they should behave on the road. One of the most important has to do with the points on the driver’s license. Unlike veteran drivers, the novice driver has only 8 points on his license. These points are increased in the following three years until reaching 12, provided that there are no sanctions that cause the loss of points.

Another obligation of the novice driver is to carry the plate with the L duly placed on the rear left part of the rear window. Although there are many people against wearing this badge, the truth is that the fine for not wearing the L amounts to no less than 100 euros. So if you are one of the deniers of wearing this badge, you may want to change your mind.

The novice driver should not forget that, like any driver, it is mandatory to have a driver’s license. In the event that the same has not yet been sent to him, he must present the corresponding certificate issued by the DGT, while the final card arrives.

By the way, although for a time the maximum speed for novice drivers on any road was 80 kilometers per hour, over time it has been proven that, rather than promoting safety, this measure represented an additional risk. For this reason, this law was repealed in 2011 and today novice drivers can circulate at the maximum speed of each type of road on which they travel.

What is the maximum alcohol level allowed for a new driver?

We have left this section aside for two reasons. The first is due to its importance, given that the best thing would be for the driver never to consume alcohol if he is going to get behind the wheel. And the second reason is because perhaps things will change in a short time, regarding the relationship between beginners and alcohol.

Today, the novice driver has a lower maximum alcohol concentration rate than that applied to experienced drivers. Specifically, this rate is only 0.30 grams per liter of blood or 0.15 per liter of expired air, just over half the rates applied to the normal driver, of 0.50 grams per liter of blood or 0.25 milligrams per liter in air. 

However, this may change over time, as the idea of ​​imposing a zero alcohol rate on novice drivers, which would also be applicable to professionals, is under study. Something that would help reduce the accident rate, although for now it is still under study.

Other precautions

To close this article, we want to leave you with some more precautions so that, as a new driver, you can drive more safely. Many of these ideas are also applicable to experienced drivers, although the influence is greater on some young drivers.

One of these precautions has to do with the mobile. Today, we have a thousand options to use the mobile hands-free at affordable prices, which reduces risks when driving. Ultimately, it is always more important to focus on the road than to respond to a WhatsApp message.

Another key aspect that we want to insist on is alcohol. The best level of alcohol to drive is 0, so if you drink, better not drive. Although it seems that alcohol does not affect your ability, it does, especially when you are a beginner.

Maintaining interior security is also key if you are traveling with animals. So it is highly recommended to use a carrier for cats or dogs, where your pets travel comfortably and safely. If your dog is larger, then the option is to resort to a pet net, which helps to accommodate them comfortably in the back seat or in the trunk area. By the way, this also affects children, who must always travel with their corresponding restraint devices properly installed and secured.

The last precaution has to do with the new driver’s insurance. It is key that these drivers are always included in the insurance policy, to avoid risks in the event of an accident. Many insurers are not responsible if the driver is not declared, which can further aggravate the consequences of an accident.