Li-Hui Chen, MS, PhD, Center for Injury Research and Policy, Johns Hopkins University, 624 North Broadway, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-2812, lhchen@jhsph.edu and Susan P. Baker, MPH, Center for Injury Research and Policy, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 624 North Broadway, 5th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Sixteen-year-old drivers have the highest fatal and non-fatal crash involvement rates per million miles traveled compared with all other age groups. To address the high crash risk among young beginning drivers, Graduated Licensing Systems (GDLs) have been introduced in the United States. The purpose of this NHTSA-supported study was to determine whether GDL systems implemented in the United States are having their intended effect of reducing fatal crash involvements.

Fatal crash rate ratios and percent changes in the rate ratios for drivers aged 16 compared with drivers aged 25-54 were calculated for the periods two years prior and two years after the implementation of the GDL system for each state. Comparisons were also made for all GDL states, combined, with the United States as a whole. The numbers of fatal crashes involving 16 year-old drivers in each state were obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Midyear population estimates for each state from 1994 to 2002 were obtained from the US Census Bureau.

Twenty-six jurisdictions had adopted a GDL system that included all three GDL stages by the end of year 2000. Twenty-one of them showed a decrease in the crash rate ratio following implementation of GDLs. For all GDL states combined, the crash rate ratios for 16 year-olds decreased 21 percent in the year following implementation, compared with 11 percent for the U.S. average.

The results suggest that existing GDL systems in the U.S. reduce the likelihood that 16 year-old drivers will be involved in fatal crashes.

Learning Objectives:

• The audience should be familiar with data supporting the effectiveness of state laws for graduated driver licensing programs.
• The audience should consider promoting GDL laws in their own states if such laws are not presently in effect.

Keywords: Motor Vehicles,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.