Under federal law, specifically the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 17-year-olds and younger are prohibited from driving on public roads as part of their job.

This restriction, enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor, aims to protect young workers from motor vehicle hazards, a leading cause of job-related deaths for teens. It applies to interstate commerce and most businesses, with narrow exceptions like farm work or off-highway driving.

Key Details

  • Prohibited Activities : No public road driving for work, including delivery, errands, or transporting goods/people.
  • Exceptions :
    • Occasional/personal errands by those 17+ if not job's main duty.
    • Custom harvesting in agriculture.
    • Off-public-road operation (e.g., private property).
  • Penalties : Violations can lead to fines up to $13,227 per minor.

State vs. Federal

States set general driving ages (mostly 16-18 via graduated licenses), but federal child labor rules override for job-related public driving. No state allows under-18 public road work driving if it conflicts with FLSA.

Real-World Context

This rule stems from high teen crash rates at work; NHTSA notes teens are three times more likely to crash. Forums buzz about it in gig economy debates, like DoorDash restrictions for under-18s.

TL;DR : Federal law bans anyone 17 or younger from job-related public road driving to prioritize safety.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.