Ten states could cut their teen fatal crash rates in half with stronger licensing laws
By a
https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20150406/196748-INFO
Separately, a new IIHS study of GDL laws shows that progress on enhancing the most effective provisions of GDL has slowed. In recent years, most revisions to young driver laws have addressed driver cellphone use and texting, while other provisions known to promote big safety benefits have seen little change.
Graduated licensing gradually introduces new teenage drivers to the driving task as they mature and develop on-the-road skills. The system has three stages: a supervised learner's period, an intermediate license (after passing a road test) that limits driving in high-risk situations except under supervision, and a license with full privileges.
An online calculator developed by IIHS and the
"The question lawmakers should be asking themselves is, have we done all that we can do to keep our youngest drivers safe on the road? In many cases, the answer is no," says
The five key components of GDL included in the calculator are permit age, practice driving hours, license age (which might be raised as a result of a long holding period for a learner permit) and restrictions on night driving and teen passengers.
Since there is no nationwide GDL system, the laws vary among states. The current best practices are a minimum intermediate license age of 17 (
Prior IIHS and HLDI research has shown that states with the strongest laws enjoy the biggest reductions in fatal crashes among 15 to 17-year-old drivers and the biggest reductions in collisions reported to insurers among 16 to 17-year-old drivers, compared with states with weak laws (see Status Report special issue: teenage drivers,
States with the most room to improve
When the Institute introduced its GDL calculator three years ago, it pointed to
If
Neighboring
States don't have to adopt all of the toughest provisions to realize benefits. For example,
A crucial GDL provision is a night driving restriction.
Allowing beginning drivers to transport other teens without adult supervision raises their risk of crashing.
Even
In addition,
Legislative progress since initial laws
Starting with
Since the mid-1990s, all but seven states have strengthened their initial GDL requirements by adding or strengthening key features, such as lengthening the learner permit period or the duration of nighttime driving or passenger restrictions.
Between 1998 and 2010, an average of 11 upgrades to GDL laws were made each year. The busiest legislative year was 2005, when 18 laws were strengthened. The pace has slowed since 2010.
Only four states have adopted substantial upgrades to their teen driver laws since IIHS launched its GDL calculator in 2012. Three states increased the minimum number of supervised practice hours -- from 35 to 70 in
The reasons for the slowdown in GDL improvements aren't clear. Changes in the political composition of state legislatures may have played a role, and some lawmakers may be reluctant to tinker with long-established GDL systems.
Quick spread of distracted driving laws
Another reason may be because policymakers have focused on distracted driving amid concerns about teens' widespread cellphone use and the fact that their immaturity and inexperience behind the wheel make them more susceptible to distractions of any kind.
"Enacting distracted driving laws for teens appears to be more palatable than enacting stricter GDL laws," McCartt says. "Only two states had a cellphone or texting ban for teenage drivers in 2004. Since then, 38 states and D.C. have implemented teen-specific bans. That's a remarkable pace."
Forty-eight states and D.C. have texting bans covering young drivers, 37 states and D.C. ban all cellphone use for young drivers, and three states ban hand-held cellphone use for young drivers. Additional states have hand-held cellphone bans covering drivers of all ages.
Few studies have examined the effects of cellphone and texting laws on crashes involving teenagers, and the evidence from these studies is mixed and inconclusive. Evaluations of
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150406/196748-INFO
SOURCE
Photo:https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150406/196748-INFO
Keywords for this news article include: Legal Issues,
Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2015, NewsRx LLC
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News