Suchergebnisse

Twelve states in the U.S. have curfew laws, which prohibit young drivers from operating motor vehicles during late evening or early morning hours. The effect of such laws on motor vehicle crashes was studied in four of these states. In each state the laws were found substantially to reduce the crashes of sixteen year olds. Sixteen year old driver crash involvements during curfew hours were reduced by an estimated 69 percent in Pennsylvania, 62 percent in New York, 40 percent in Maryland, and 25 percent in Louisiana. Except in Maryland, the percentage of the sixteen year old population licensed was lower in curfew than comparison states. It is possible that curfew laws reduce early licensure, in which case reductions in crash involvements resulting from curfews are greater than shown above.

In recent years, a revolution has occurred in the United States in how we license drivers. Since the mid-1990s, most states have adopted some form of graduated licensing, a phase-in system for young beginners, designed to protect them and others on the road while they are learning. In this session, we will assess and summarize the present status of graduated licensing in the United States. Topics covered are: the risk factors a graduated system should address; how adequately the legislation that has been enacted addresses these risks; what the early evaluations are showing about the effects of graduated licensing systems on crashes and injuries; and other risk factors for young drivers — how graduated licensing does, does not, or could address them.