The Teen Driving Problem
It has been said many times that children are our most precious resource. While parents throughout time have loved their children enormously, today’s parents have taken this saying to heart in more visible ways than previous generations. From the “Caution­Baby on Board” window decals of the early 1980s to the ubiquitous “My […]

The Traditional Driver Licensing Process
Driver licensing is a function of state government. Each state has different rules and regulations, but the essential steps are similar. An individual applies to the Department of Motor Vehicles or other licensing agency for a driver license. He or she usually must pass a written knowledge test and a vision […]

Addressing the Problems
Young novice drivers are a highway safety problem for many reasons, primarily a combination of immaturity, inexperience and high-risk driving exposure. This is true for teenagers everywhere, but it is a particular problem in the United States, where more teenagers have cars or have access to a family car than in any other […]

 
 
Graduated Driver Licensing: Results from the U.S. and Other Countries
Although licensing practices vary from state to state, a number of states have adopted components of a graduated driver licensing system, and those that have completed evaluations have seen positive results. Here are three states that have evaluated the effect of their program on teen crashes […]

 
Support for Graduated Driver Licensing
Public Opinion Two recent public opinion surveys point to widespread support for graduated driver licensing. A 1996 public opinion poll conducted by the American Automobile Association found that nearly three out of four respondents favor limiting the use of cars by 15-to-20-year-olds until they gain sufficient driving experience.
In 1995, the Public […]

 
States Should Adopt Graduated Driver Licensing
Support is Strong
As indicated in Section V, support is strong across all segments of society for graduated driver licensing. Any state that considers a graduated driver licensing system will have active and widespread support from many state, county and municipal officials, including law enforcement officers and motor vehicle administrators.
Resources are […]

 
Graduated Driver Licensing Model Law
Section 1­Purpose 1
The legislature has recognized the need to develop a graduated licensing system in light of the disproportionately high incidence of motor vehicle crashes involving youthful motorists. This system will improve highway safety by progressively developing and improving the skills of younger drivers in the safest possible environment, […]

Characteristics of Selected U.S. Licensing Laws
As Compared With Graduated Driver Licensing Model Law Developed by the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances Many states now are considering changes in their licensing laws for young drivers. Some have introduced graduated systems in which driving privileges are phased in, allowing initial experience to be gained […]

Teen Crash Statistics

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers.
In 1997, 5,477 young people (passengers and drivers age 15-20) died in motor vehicle crashes. Twenty-one percent of the young drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking.
Young people age 15-20 make up 6.7 percent of the total driving population in this […]

Resources

 Federal Resources

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
Phone 800/424-9393 (Auto Safety Hotline)
Web site http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an agency of the US Department of Transportation, is responsible for driver licensing and other highway safety programs. NHTSA maintains statistics and fact sheets, and provides information […]

“All the 16-Year-Olds Didn’t Make It Home,” Status Report Special Issue (December 17, 1994), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

“Earning a Driver’s License,” by Allan F. Williams, PhD, Public Health Reports, November/December 1997 (Volume 112).

Graduated Licensing in Nova Scotia: A Survey of Teenagers and Parents, by Daniel R. Mayhew, Herbert M. Singleton, Susan A. […]

Thanks to the persons and organizations that supplied information and assistance, especially Allan Williams, Ph.D. and Julie Rochman, with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Leila Osina with the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances.

Notes from States chart on page 21

* These states have all three NCUTLO core provisions.

In […]