Effect of a Graduated Licensing System on Motor Vehicle Crashes andAssociated Injuries Involving Drivers Less Than 18 Years-of-Age

Abstract

Objectives. The rate of motor vehicle crashes in the United States is higher among adolescent drivers than among any other age group. This study was conducted to determine whether implementation of a graduated driver's licensing program is associated with a reduced the rate of motor vehicle crashes andinjuries involving adolescent driver. Methods. Time periods before andafter establishment of Delaware's GDL program were compared. The one year “before” period spanned January 1, 1998, through December 31, 1998, andthe 3-year “after” period spanned January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2002. Following enactment of the GDL program on July 1, 1999, we delayed data collection during the “after” period for 6 months to allow for full implementation of the program. Information was obtained for all Delaware registered drivers between ages 16 and17 years were involved in motor vehicle crashes involving property damage or injury from 1998 to 2002. The rate of crashes involving property damage, EMS transport, injury, hospitalization, anddeath were determined pre- andpost-GDL,. Length of hospitalization andhospital charges were compared, andthe presence andage of passengers, along with time of day were determined. Results. The total number of licensed 16- and17-year-old drivers in Delaware was 14,320 during 1998 (the before period), 16,849 for 2000, 14,098 for 2001, and14,276 for 2002, for a total of 45,223 licensed drivers studied during the after period. The proportion of hospitalizations, injuries, crashes involving property damage andtotal number of crashes involving registered 16- and17-year-old drivers after GDL each decreased by at least 30%. In addition, this GDL program was associated with a reduction in nighttime crashes andin crashes involving cars with multiple passengers in comparison with the time period before GDL. Conclusions. Two years after implementation, the hospitalization rate, injury rate, andcrash rate decreased significantly with enactment of the GDL program in the State of Delaware. The Delaware's GDL program appears successful in decreasing motor vehicle crashes andresultant injuries in adolescent drivers.

Key words:

• injury
• injury prevention
• motor vehicle crash
• driver's license