GDL - A Safer Way to License Drivers
The Graduated Drivers Licence system in Nova Scotia
In simplest terms, the Nova Scotia GDL system works like this:
1) study the
Nova Scotia Driver’s Handbook
2)
pass
the
Nova
Scotia
driver’s
Vision
Test,
Road
Sign
Test
and
Rules
of
the
Road
Test
and acquire a
Class 7 Learner’s Licence
which is good for 2 years
3)
practise
driving
with
an
experienced
driver
for
a
minimum
of
1
year
(9
months
if
you
take an approved 35 hour Driver Training program)
4)
pass
the
Nova
Scotia
driver’s
Road
Test
and
acquire
a
Class
5N
Newly
Licensed
Driver
Licence
which is good for 5 years and can be renewed for the rest of your driving career
5) while you have a Class 5N licence you must follow these regulations:
zero blood alcohol level
only
one
front
seat
passenger
and
rear
seat
passengers
limited
to
the
number
of
available seat belts
no upgrade beyond a Class 5 driver’s licence
no
driving
between
midnight
and
5:00
a.m.
unless
you
have
acquired
an
exemption
for
employment
or
you
are
accompanied
by
an
experienced
driver
who
has
completed
the GDL program
you
may
not
serve
as
an
experienced
driver
to
accompany
any
other
driver
with
a
Class 7 or Class 5N driver’s licence
6)
after
a
minimum
of
2
years
driving
with
no
licence
suspensions,
you
may
apply
to
have
the
N
removed
from
your
licence.
In
order
to
do
this
you
must
present
a
certificate
showing
that
you
have
completed
either
a
35
hour
Driver
Training
program
or
a
6
hour
Defensive Driving course.
7)
after
you
have
the
N
removed
from
your
driver’s
licence,
you
will
be
driving
with
a
Class
5R
licence
under
special
restrictions
called
“condition
47”.
Under
condition
47
you
must follow these regulations:
zero blood alcohol level
you
may
not
serve
as
an
experienced
driver
to
accompany
any
other
driver
with
a
Class 7 or Class 5N driver’s licence
8)
after
a
minimum
of
2
years
with
no
licence
suspensions,
all
restrictions
associated
with
the
Graduated
Driver
Licence
system
are
removed
and
you
will
be
considered
a
fully
experienced driver with a
Class 5 Driver’s Licence
.
Note
that
a
young
driver
who
completes
all
stages
of
Graduated
Licensing
in
the
shortest
possible time will be almost 21 years old before he or she can exit the GDL system.
