Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121720

Bevan Kirley, MS, Andrea Feller, MD, FAAP, Elisa Braver, PhD, and Patricia Langenberg, PhD. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore, 660 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, 443-812-5404, bkirley@epi.umaryland.edu

The efficacy of graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws typically has been measured by examining the effects on teenage drivers. Examining the effect of GDL on other road users is important for assessing the public health impact of these laws. This study evaluated Maryland's GDL program, implemented July 1, 1999, for its effect on 16-year-old drivers (crash involvements and the rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries) and the rates of injuries and fatalities of other road users involved in collisions with 16-year-old drivers. Using both population and licensed drivers as denominators, rates pre-GDL (1996-1998) were compared with rates post-GDL implementation (2001-2003) and were adjusted for rates in an older comparison driver group (ages 30-59) to control for trends unrelated to GDL. Among 16-year-olds, there was a 24% decrease in licensure rate in the post-GDL period. Driver crash involvement rates per total 16-year-old population showed decreases (RR 0.82; CI (0.80, 0.85)). Per 16-year-old licensed driver, overall crash involvement rates increased (1.09 (1.06, 1.12)). Significant decreases were observed per 16-year-old population for injuries among 16-year-old drivers (0.63 (0.55, 0.72)), their passengers (0.63 (0.53, 0.74)), and other vehicle occupants (0.69 (0.60, 0.80)). Per 16-year-old licensed driver, significant rate decreases were observed for injuries among 16-year-old drivers and their passengers, as well as a non-significant decrease among other vehicle occupants. GDL appears to be working in Maryland by delaying licensure; however, the decreases in non-fatal injuries per licensed driver suggest additional mechanisms by which GDL benefits traffic safety.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe components of graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs.
• Understand methods of evaluating GDL programs.
• Assess public health impact of GDL on drivers and other road users.
• Discuss the changes in rates of injuries and fatalities to other road users after GDL implementation in Maryland on July 1, 1999.
• Analyze future research needs for GDL research.

Keywords: Injury Prevention, Motor Vehicles

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.