• Johnathon P Ehsani, C Raymond Bingham, and Jean T Shope.
• School of Public Health and the Transportation Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. jpehsani@umich.edu
• Am J Prev Med. 2013 Jul 1;45(1):9-18.

BackgroundEvidence is mixed on the effects of graduated driver licensing (GDL) on motor vehicle crashes involving drivers aged 18 years.PurposeThis study examined the effects of GDL on crashes involving drivers aged 18 years in three states: Maryland, where GDL applies to novice drivers of all ages, and Florida and Michigan, where GDL applies only to new drivers aged <18 years. In addition, this study sought to confirm positive effects of GDL among drivers aged 16 and 17 years.MethodsMonthly rates for three levels of crash severity (fatal/disabling injury, nondisabling injury, and possible injury/property damage only [PDO]) for drivers aged 16, 17, and 18 years were calculated using crash records and census data. Data for Maryland spanned 1998 to 2009, for Florida 1990 to 2009, and Michigan 1992 to 2009. GDL's effects on teen driver crashes by age were estimated using time-series analyses, conducted in 2012.ResultsCrash rates for drivers aged 16 and 17 years declined in all three states following implementation or revision of GDL. For drivers aged 18 years, revision of an existing GDL law in Maryland was followed by a 6.9% decrease in possible-injury/PDO crashes; in Michigan, GDL implementation was followed by a 3.6% increase in possible-injury/PDO crashes; and in Florida, GDL had no effect.ConclusionsGDL led to expected declines in crash rates for drivers aged 16 and 17 years. However, the findings suggest that when GDL applies only to novice drivers aged <18 years, rather than to all novice drivers, crash rates among drivers aged 18 years may increase. In order to potentially extend the safety benefits of GDL, the age at which GDL for new drivers should be applied requires further attention.Copyright © 2013 American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

20 keywords...

hide…