NHTSA Novice Driver InitiativesNHTSA Novice Driver InitiativesDriver EducationDriver Education

andandGraduated LicensingGraduated Licensing

Thomas M. Louizou, Regional Administrator

NHTSA Eastern Region

May 10, 2007

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

16 17 18 19 20- 25- 30- 35- 40- 45- 50- 55- 60- 65- 70- 75- 80- 85+

Driver age

Crash Rate by Driver AgeCrash Rate by Driver Age

(2001-2002 GES data; IIHS, 2006)

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Driver Death Rates by Age and Driver Death Rates by Age and Passenger PresencePassenger Presence

per 10 Million Trips, 1992-97per 10 Million Trips, 1992-97

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Number of passengers

0 1 2 3+ 0 1 2 3+

drivers 17years-old

drivers 30-59years-old

drivers 16years-old

0 1 2 3+

Source: Chen et al. (2000)

Fatal Crash Involvement, Fatal Crash Involvement, Day vs. NightDay vs. Night

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5

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16-17 18-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70+

Age

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ent

Night

Day

(IIHS, 2001-2002)

16-20 Year Old Alcohol Involved 16-20 Year Old Alcohol Involved Fatalities Fatalities 2000-20052000-2005

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

NJ

US

Crash Rates are Highest …Crash Rates are Highest …

During the first few months/miles of drivingDuring the first few months/miles of driving At nightAt night With teenage passengersWith teenage passengers With alcoholWith alcohol

Graduated Driver LicensingGraduated Driver Licensing

45 States, DC and PR 45 States, DC and PR All have 3-stage systems with most model All have 3-stage systems with most model

components, although none has all componentscomponents, although none has all components Detailed list of State laws can be found at Detailed list of State laws can be found at www.iihs.orgwww.iihs.org

Common restrictions include:Common restrictions include: limiting passengers, nighttime driving and cell phone uselimiting passengers, nighttime driving and cell phone use Safety belt requirementsSafety belt requirements Zero tolerance alcohol restrictionsZero tolerance alcohol restrictions

How Effective is GDL, and Why?How Effective is GDL, and Why?

StateState CrashCrashReductionReduction

FloridaFlorida 9%9%

MichiganMichigan 26%26%

North CarolinaNorth Carolina 25%25%

OregonOregon 16%16%

Nova ScotiaNova Scotia 24%24%

OntarioOntario 31%31%

Expands the learning Expands the learning processprocess

Reduces risk exposureReduces risk exposure Improves driving Improves driving

proficiencyproficiency Enhances motivation Enhances motivation

for self-drivingfor self-driving

Driver Involvement Rates (Ages 15-17)2001 - 2005

NHTSA, NCSA Information Services Branch; U.S. Census Bureau; IIHS

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10.00

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30.00

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50.00

MS

SD

MO

KY

AL

DE

KS

AR ID

WY

OK

MT

TN

NE

NM

ND

SC

GA

WV IN IA NC

CO

VT

LA WI

FL

MN

AZ

ME

TX MI

NV

UT

OH

VA IL PA

AK

MD

OR

NH RI

DC

WA

CT HI

CA

MA

NY NJ

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IIHS Rating of GDL Components

- Good

- Fair

- Marginal

- Poor

NJ

NHTSA EffortsNHTSA Efforts Will convene an Will convene an expert working groupexpert working group to to

develop national standards on driver ed develop national standards on driver ed and a and a national conferencenational conference to consider to consider consensus recommendationsconsensus recommendations

Continues to conduct extensive research Continues to conduct extensive research into GDL, Driver Ed, and related issuesinto GDL, Driver Ed, and related issues

• Oregon: Oregon: GDL Program GDL Program • Texas: Texas: Parent-Taught driver ed Parent-Taught driver ed

Parent-taught drivers are at a greater risk for Parent-taught drivers are at a greater risk for crashes/injuriescrashes/injuries

• Wisconsin and TennesseeWisconsin and Tennessee: GDL & belts : GDL & belts • MassachusettsMassachusetts: PC-based risk awareness training : PC-based risk awareness training • Georgia:Georgia: TADRA Act TADRA Act

16-year-old driver crash rates declined by 36.8% in 5+ 16-year-old driver crash rates declined by 36.8% in 5+ years since enactmentyears since enactment

• Michigan:Michigan: GDL Program GDL Program • Arizona:Arizona: Social Norms & Teen Belt Use Social Norms & Teen Belt Use

NHTSA State-Specific ResearchNHTSA State-Specific Research

• Evaluation of passenger restrictionsEvaluation of passenger restrictions• National GDL evaluationNational GDL evaluation• Process evaluation of Drivers Ed in the Process evaluation of Drivers Ed in the

U.S.U.S.• Feasibility Study - Evaluating Driver EdFeasibility Study - Evaluating Driver Ed• Evaluation of “Driver’s Edge”Evaluation of “Driver’s Edge”• Next Generation Driver EdNext Generation Driver Ed

Other NHTSA Research Other NHTSA Research

SummarySummary

Young driver fatal crash rates are very highYoung driver fatal crash rates are very high States vary widely with respect to crash rates States vary widely with respect to crash rates

and quality of lawsand quality of laws GDL laws are effective in reducing crashesGDL laws are effective in reducing crashes There is a relationship between low rates There is a relationship between low rates

and strong lawsand strong laws There is limited research on impact There is limited research on impact

effectiveness of driver educationeffectiveness of driver education NHTSA has existing and planned products NHTSA has existing and planned products

and activities to assist Statesand activities to assist States

For more information:For more information:

www.nhtsa.govwww.nhtsa.gov

region2@dot.govregion2@dot.gov

914-682-6162914-682-6162