Graduated Licensing a Success

The objective of graduated driver licensing is to reduce crash rates by ensuring new drivers gain experience and can mature under conditions of low risk before graduating to more demanding driving conditions

An investigation by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) found that Nova Scotia's graduated driver licensing program has reduced road crashes and casualties.

In October 1994, Nova Scotia introduced a program that applies to all new drivers regardless of age. It spans 2½ years with two stages, a 6-month learner phase, followed by a 24-month newly licensed driver phase. During both phases several driving restrictions apply, most notably a requirement for supervision by an experienced driver at all times in the learner phase and a night driving restriction from midnight to 5 a.m. in the newly licensed driver phase.

The TIRF report showed that crashes involving 16-year-old drivers dropped dramatically after the program came into effect. Overall, crashes decreased by 37 per cent during the first three years of the program. TIRF estimates there were at least 560 fewer 16-year-old drivers involved in crashes as a result of the program. The analysis also showed that there were at least 150 fewer 16-year-old drivers involved in crashes resulting in injury or death. Also, the crash rate among all novice drivers, regardless of age, dropped by 19.4 per cent.

"Our previous studies in Nova Scotia showed that parents overwhelmingly support the graduated licensing program; even teens are surprisingly supportive," says Daniel R. Mayhew, TIRF Senior Vice President and principal investigator of the study. "In our previous research, we also found remarkably high levels of compliance with the program. But what we needed to know was whether the program was saving lives and reducing injuries. Our recent investigation provides conclusive evidence that the program is effective."

TIRF found that the Nova Scotia program was more effective in reducing crashes than programs in New Zealand, Ontario and Florida. New Zealand was the first to introduce a graduated driver licensing program in 1987. In 1994, Nova Scotia and Ontario were the first to introduce programs in North America. Currently six provinces and 24 U.S. states have enacted some form of graduated driver licensing

Statistics released in December by the Canadian Institute for Health Information show that the rate of injuries from traffic collisions in Ontario has dropped markedly in the past five years, notably among males aged 15 to 24. Researchers credited the 35 per cent decrease in that age group to the province's graduated licensing system.

Implementation of graduated licensing systems was a major recommendation emanating from the Canada Safety Council's 1990 symposium on youthful drivers.

The 33-page report Impact of the graduated driver licensing program in Nova Scotia is available from TIRF
(telephone (613) 238-5235; fax (613) 238-5292)

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