Graduated driver licensing : an international review

Graduated driver licensing (GDL) aims to gradually increase the exposure of new drivers to more complex driving situations and typically consists of learner, provisional and open licence phases. Te frst phase, the learner licence, is designed to allow novice drivers to obtain practical driving experience in lower risk situations. The learner licence can delay licensure, encourage novice drivers to learn under supervision, mandate the number of hours of practice required to progress to the next phase and encourage parental involvement. Te second phase, the provisional licence, establishes various driving restrictions and thereby reduces exposure to situations of higher risk, such as driving at night, with passengers or after drinking alcohol. Parental involvement with a GDL system appears essential in helping novices obtain sufcient practice and in enforcing compliance with restrictions once the new driver obtains a provisional licence. Given the signifcant number of young drivers involved in crashes within Oman, GDL is one countermeasure that may be benefcial in reducing crash risk and involvement for this group. © 2014, Sultan Qaboos University. All rights reserved