Adams School Of Driving

Do Graduated Driver Licensing Restrictions Reduce Teen Accident Rates?

Graduated Driver Licensing programs are designed to reduce the likelihood of teen driving accidents by setting up mandatory licensing stages. Rather than allowing young drivers to enjoy full driving privileges right away, these stages ensure young drivers don’t take on too much too soon in their development. The intent of GDL is to produce safe drivers through safe methods. The question is, does Graduated Driver Licensing actually work?

• Stages: The first stage in Graduated Driver Licensing is the learner’s stage. Otherwise known as the permit phase, this stage requires young drivers to practice driving for a minimum of 50 hours, ten of which must be at night under the supervision of a licensed adult. The second stage is known as the intermediate or initial licensing phase. During this stage, drivers face nighttime restrictions to ensure visibility and passenger restrictions to reduce distractions. Once they reach the age of 18, young drivers can acquire full licenses.
• Results: The Journal of the American Medical Association concludes that 16-year-old drivers in GDL programs across the United States experienced significantly lower fatal crash incidents over a 21-year timeframe. However, according to the same study, 18-year-old drivers actually saw a slightly higher fatal crash rate. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that in 2008 there were 27 percent fewer fatal crashes among 15 to 20 year olds than just ten years earlier. In 2006, the CDC released findings that indicate an eleven percent reduction in fatalities for 16-year-old drivers in GDL programs. In states across the country, including North Carolina, Michigan, and Oregon, 16-year-old drivers in GDL programs saw over 16 percent fewer crashes.

Keep your teen safe on the road by registering him or her for teen driving classes at Adams School of Driving. To find out more information about our effective programs, visit us in one of our Chicagoland locations or call us today at (847) 965-6565.

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