Student Driver Stickers—Do They Really Do Anything?

We’ve all been behind the wheel at one point and have seen a car in front of us covered in student driver stickers. Perhaps it was a driving school car or a Honda Civic with a sticker next to the tail light in bold layers saying “Student driver inside.”

You might wonder, how exactly does a student driver sticker work, and does it have any real-world implications? We spoke with Lucas Waldenback, co-founder of Zutobi, a leading driving education platform, to get the lowdown on student driver stickers and what you need to know.

What Is a Student Driver Sticker?

A student driver sticker is exactly what it sounds like — a tiny sticker that usually goes by the tail lights to let other people know the driver inside is still getting acquainted with drive and learning the rules of the road. “It’s meant to promote patience and understanding from other road users,” says Waldenvack. “While some see value in it, we don’t consider it a crucial part of the learning process. Drivers are still responsible for their actions, and it’s better to focus on building real-world skills rather than relying on a sticker to ‘warn’ others.”

Are Student Driver Stickers Required?

Well, this really depends, but in general student driver stickers aren’t required by law in most states (unlike learners permits, which are). In fact, according to Freeway Insurance, only in New Jersey are people with learner’s permits required to put identification stickers on their vehicles to let other drivers know they don’t have their official driver’s license yet.

“Anyone who is in the process of learning to drive can use one,” says Waldenvack. “However, I personally think it’s not necessary. If you’re getting proper driving lessons and practicing under supervision, your skills and awareness on the road will do a lot more to ensure safety than a sticker ever could.”

Do Student Driver Stickers Have Any Legal Impact?

No, student driver stickers don’t have any legal impact. “While it might encourage others to drive more cautiously, it doesn’t change the fact that learner drivers are still subject to the same road rules as any other driver,” says Waldenvack.

In other words, if a new driver breaks the rules of the road, they will be subjected to the same legal repercussions as any other driver (though a police officer may be inclined to let you off with a warning if the driving violation isn’t too serious).

Do Student Driver Stickers Have Any Insurance Implications?

According to Waldenvack, student driver stickers don’t directly affect your insurance rates. “What matters to insurers is how you drive and whether you follow the learner driver requirements (like having a licensed adult with you),” he says. “A sticker doesn’t change the fundamentals of how your insurance is structured.”

Do Student Driver Stickers Even Work?

Waldenvack says he has had some of his driving students tell him anecdotally that they feel more comfortable driving with a student driver sticker when they are starting out, but not all of them. In some instances, some feel that they are being subjected to more scrutiny, which makes them even more nervous.

“We believe it’s much more important to focus on proper driver education and getting experience in varied road conditions, rather than relying on a sticker to manage expectations,” he explains.

In terms of responses from other drivers on the road, some might be more inclined to take a breath and give the newbie some grace when parallel parking. On the other hand, some may get more frustrated or perhaps not even bat an eye at the sticker — the response is completely subject to change and there’s really no “right” answer.

About the Expert

• Lucas Waldenback, co-founder of Zutobi, a leading driving education platform.

Sources

• Freeway Insurance: Do Student Driver Stickers Work?
• Denver 7: Driving You Crazy: What protections do drivers have when they have a student driver sticker on their vehicle?

Related

• Do You Know What That Little Button on Your Seat Belt Is For? 
• What Those Lines on Your Backup Camera Really Tell You 
• Here’s What The Small Panel On Your Car’s Front Bumper Is For 

The post Student Driver Stickers—Do They Really Do Anything? appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Student Driver Stickers—Do They Really Do Anything?