NHTSA Novice Driver Initiatives

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NHTSA Novice Driver Initiatives

• Driver Education
• and
• Graduated Licensing

Thomas M. Louizou, Regional Administrator NHTSA
Eastern Region May 10, 2007
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Crash Rate by Driver Age
Crash involvement per million miles traveled
(2001-2002 GES data IIHS, 2006)
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Driver Death Rates by Age and Passenger Presence
per 10 Million Trips, 1992-97
Source Chen et al. (2000)
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Fatal Crash Involvement, Day vs. Night
(IIHS, 2001-2002)
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16-20 Year Old Alcohol Involved Fatalities
2000-2005
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Crash Rates are Highest

• During the first few months/miles of driving
• At night
• With teenage passengers
• With alcohol

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Graduated Driver Licensing

• 45 States, DC and PR
• All have 3-stage systems with most model
  components, although none has all components
• Detailed list of State laws can be found at
  www.iihs.org
• Common restrictions include
• limiting passengers, nighttime driving and cell
  phone use
• Safety belt requirements
• Zero tolerance alcohol restrictions

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How Effective is GDL, and Why?
State Crash Reduction
Florida 9
Michigan 26
North Carolina 25
Oregon 16
Nova Scotia 24
Ontario 31

• Expands the learning process
• Reduces risk exposure
• Improves driving proficiency
• Enhances motivation for self-driving

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Driver Involvement Rates (Ages 15-17) 2001 - 2005
50.00
IIHS Rating of GDL Components -
Good - Fair - Marginal
- Poor
45.00
40.00
35.00
30.00
Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes Per 100K
Population
25.00
20.00
NJ
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
IN
RI
HI
ID
IA
WI
FL
ME
MI
IL
CT
NJ
DE
MT
TN
NE
NM
ND
SC
NC
CO
LA
MN
TX
UT
OH
MD
NH
DC
CA
MA
MS
SD
MO
AL
KS
AR
OK
GA
VT
AZ
NV
PA
AK
OR
WA
NY
KY
WV
VA
WY
NHTSA, NCSA Information Services Branch U.S.
Census Bureau IIHS
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NHTSA Efforts

• Will convene an expert working group to develop
  national standards on driver ed and a national
  conference to consider consensus recommendations
• Continues to conduct extensive research into GDL,
  Driver Ed, and related issues

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NHTSA State-Specific Research

• Oregon GDL Program
• Texas Parent-Taught driver ed
• Parent-taught drivers are at a greater risk for
  crashes/injuries
• Wisconsin and Tennessee GDL belts
• Massachusetts PC-based risk awareness training
• Georgia TADRA Act
• 16-year-old driver crash rates declined by 36.8
  in 5 years since enactment
• Michigan GDL Program
• Arizona Social Norms Teen Belt Use

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Other NHTSA Research

• Evaluation of passenger restrictions
• National GDL evaluation
• Process evaluation of Drivers Ed in the U.S.
• Feasibility Study - Evaluating Driver Ed
• Evaluation of Drivers Edge
• Next Generation Driver Ed

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Summary

• Young driver fatal crash rates are very high
• States vary widely with respect to crash rates
  and quality of laws
• GDL laws are effective in reducing crashes
• There is a relationship between low rates and
  strong laws
• There is limited research on impact effectiveness
  of driver education
• NHTSA has existing and planned products and
  activities to assist States

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For more information

• www.nhtsa.gov
• region2_at_dot.gov
• 914-682-6162