Preliminary evaluation of the North Carolina graduated driver licensing system : effects on young driver crashes

80887448413301PDFResearch PaperDTNH22-94-H15148Teenage driversGraduated licensingFatalitiesInjuriesAccident dataNorth CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-AccidentsNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human FactorsNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway SafetyNTL-REFERENCES AND DIRECTORIES-StatisticsNTL-LAWS AND REGULATIONS-State Laws and RegulationsAGR-SAFETY AND SECURITY-SAFETY AND SECURITYBTS Data DirectoryIn December 1997, North Carolina became the second state to enact a comprehensive Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system. The purpose of the GSL is to reduce young driver crashes by introducing beginning drivers to the full range of driving experience in stages, thereby allowing them to obtain needed experience and develop maturity. This report describes changes in young driver motor vehicle crashes following enactment of the GDL program. The authors examined information about crashes involving drivers of passenger vehicles which was obtained from the North Carolina Crash Data File for 1997 and 1999. By 1999, nearly all 16 year-old drivers in North Carolina had begun their driving experience under the GDL program as opposed to the previous system. Preliminary analyses indicate that the North Carolina GDL program is having the anticipated effect on young driver crashes