What does the term "graduated licensing" refer to?

The term "graduated licensing" refers primarily to a system designed to phase young drivers into full driving privileges gradually. This approach is structured to enhance safety by allowing novice drivers to gain experience under lower-risk conditions before obtaining unrestricted driving privileges.

This system typically includes multiple stages: a learner's permit stage, where the new driver can only drive with a qualified adult, followed by an intermediate stage that may have certain restrictions, such as passenger limits or curfews. Finally, it culminates in full driving privileges once the driver has demonstrated adequate skill and maturity. This progressive approach is aimed at reducing the high crash rates often seen among newly licensed drivers by ensuring that they accumulate more driving experience under supervised conditions before becoming fully independent drivers.