Drivers under the age of 18 have a very high fatality rate, even though they only account for six percent of the drivers on the roadways, said Steven Dale of the Division of Motor Vehicles in Charleston.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation and the Division of Motor Vehicles are informing the public about the new laws that will take effect July 10.

These laws pertain to the Graduated Drivers Licenses for teens, Dale said.

There are two kinds: an instructional permit known as level one and an intermediate license known as level two.

The biggest change for level one drivers will be that they now have to complete 50 hours of instructional driving, ten of those hours have to be at night, he said.

The old law only required 30 hours.

Level two drivers now can only drive with a licensed driver in the front seat until 10:00 p.m.

They will also be prohibited from having any unrelated passengers under the age of 20 in the car for the first six months after they pass the road skills test.

"That would put us in compliance with border states and what they are doing and what the national standards are," Dale said.

Arguably one of the most dangerous driving offenses will now be more stringently enforced.

GDL drivers can be charged with a primary offense for using handheld cell phones or text messaging devices while driving.