Kansas will not be the last state in the nation to levy a graduated driver’s licensing system upon its teenagers.

A new set of requirements favored by the state’s safety advocates will greet new drivers as of Jan. 1, 2010. Kathleen Sebelius signed the measure into law before leaving office as governor.

Supporters say the new law will address the greatest risks to young motorists: inexperience, multiple passengers and late-night driving. Insurance costs also will be reduced.

“One of the primary reasons is car crashes are the number one cause of death for Kansas teenagers,” Stephanie Mulholland, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit Kansas Action For Children, told the News-Press.

All states, except North Dakota, will have a graduated driver’s license system, Ms. Mulholland said. Kansas has modeled its law on licensing changes made by other states, according to KAC.

The new law also was needed because teen drivers are spending more time driving and highway speeds have continued to increase in the past two decades, she said. Extra time through the graduated levels will allow teens more time to practice their driving, she added.

Four changes will take place under the new system:

Every teen will be required to hold a learner’s permit for a year before obtaining a restricted or full license.

Teen drivers will be allowed no more than one non-sibling passenger under 21 years old during their first six months with a full license.

Late-night driving will be limited to 9 p.m. during the first six months of a full license, unless the driving is to and from work or school.

The use of cell phones and other electronic devices will be prohibited while driving until teens complete the six-month period of the second and third requirements. There will be an exception for reporting emergencies.

Drivers who possess a learner’s permit before the new year or are otherwise already in the state’s licensing system will be grandfathered into the new law, Ms. Mulholland said.

In Missouri, 16-year-old drivers may apply for an intermediate license that allows them to drive alone except during a 1 to 5 a.m. curfew. The state’s graduated license became law in 2001, said Missouri Department of Revenue spokesman Ted Farnen.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.