National Evaluation of Graduated Driver Licensing Programs

The implementation of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs is associated with lower fatal crash rates of young drivers, but the contribution of specific components of GDL programs is not known. The objective of this research was to determine which types of GDL programs are associated with reductions in fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers. A retrospective study was conducted of the involvement of 16-year-old drivers in fatal crashes in the United States from 1994 through 2004 using data obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the U.S. Census Bureau. The association of various GDL programs with fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers was examined and compared to results for 20-24 and 25-29-year-old drivers. Analysis was based on the total number of quarters of the year in all States (State-quarters) with or without specific GDL programs, excluding the four quarters before and the four quarters after a law was changed. The main outcome measure was Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) for fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers in relation to GDL programs. Overall, State-quarters having GDL programs (combined results, including weaker programs) were associated with an 11% lower [IRR 0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80, 0.99] fatal crash involvement rate for 16-year-old drivers, than State-quarters without GDL programs. When State-quarters without any of the seven GDL components are compared to State-quarters with GDL programs, only those programs having five or more components had significantly lower (18%-21%) fatal crash involvement rates for 16-year-old drivers. The finding that GDL is associated with lower fatal crash involvement rates is strengthened by the observation that drivers age 20 to 24 or 25 to 29 did not also show lower fatal crash involvement rates during the comparable State-quarters. It was concluded that the most comprehensive GDL programs are associated with crash involvement rates about 20% lower for 16-year-olds than comparable crash involvement rates without GDL programs. Based on existing programs that were sufficiently common for analysis, the greatest benefit appears to be in programs that include age requirements plus 3 or more months of waiting before the intermediate stage, nighttime driving restriction, and either supervised driving of at least 30 hours or a passenger restriction.

• Record URL:
  http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/Traffic%20Injury%20Control/Teen%20Driver/files/GDL_6-20-2006.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

  Bloomberg School of Public Health
  Center for Injury Research and Policy, 624 North Broadway
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21205

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Baker, Susan P
  • Chen, Li-Hui
  • Li, Guohua
• Publication Date: 2006-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: NHTSA Technical Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 23p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Evaluation and assessment; Fatalities; Graduated licensing; Statistics; Teenage drivers
• Identifier Terms: Fatality Analysis Reporting System
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01095543
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-810 614
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-97-H-05278
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 25 2008 1:49PM