Strategies to Reduce Crashes for Young Drivers Not Covered by Graduated Driver Licensing Restrictions

Some states have observed a growing percentage of young people delaying driver licensure until age 18 or older, along with a declining percentage of teens ages 16–17 obtaining driver licenses. Delay may be due, in part, to their desire to avoid the restrictions, requirements, and costs associated with graduated driver licensing (GDL), which generally applies only to new drivers under the age of 18. There are some indications that 18- and 19-year-old drivers who are not covered by GDL restrictions have the highest rate of injury and fatal crash involvement among all young drivers within their first year of licensure. The delay in licensure may be a contributing factor. To help address this safety concern, policy proposals have been submitted that focus on increasing the age of driver training requirements and/or GDL restrictions to novice drivers age 18 and older. Research is needed to develop a better understanding of (1) the safety implications associated with delaying driver licensure beyond ages covered by state GDL laws and (2) potential strategies to reduce crash rates for 18- and 19-year-old drivers within their first year of licensure who are not covered by GDL restrictions. The objective of this research is to develop a guide that identifies potential strategies for consideration by state driver licensing agencies and state highway safety offices (SHSOs) to reduce crash rates for young drivers currently not covered by GDL restrictions.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5924
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $450,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  BTS-44

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Governors Highway Safety Association

  444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 722
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, D.C.  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Retting, Richard

• Start Date: 20260119
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash causes; Driver education; Driver licensing; Graduated licensing; Teenage drivers
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01959878
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: BTS-44
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 1 2025 1:54PM