Novice Teen Driving: GDL and Beyond
Research Foundations for Policy and Practice Symposium
Held on February 5-7, 2007 in Tucson, Arizona, the Symposium’s goal was to establish
a vision for policy and practices to improve teen driving and current GDL systems.
The Symposium was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, GEICO
Foundation, General Motors Corporation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
National Safety Council, Nationwide Insurance, United Parcel Service and State Farm
Insurance.
These fact sheets summarize the current scientific findings on Graduated Driver
Licensing that were presented at the Symposium in February. Information in the fact
sheets is based on papers written by Symposium presenters and published in the April
2007 GDL Special Issue of the Journal of Safety Research.
The National Safety Council's second GDL forum since 2002, the February Symposium
brought researchers and practitioners from around the world together to discuss
updated research on teen driving performance and behaviors, effects of GDL laws
on crash reduction, effects of parenting behaviors on teen driving safety, driver
education, how GDL can be improved, and more. Symposium findings resulted in two
classifications of effective GDL components:
- GDL components proven to be effective: extended learner's permit holding periods,
nighttime driving restrictions, and passenger restrictions.
- GDL components that may be effective: supervised driving requirements, cell phone
restrictions, seat belt use requirements, and contingent advancement.
There are several things you can do to increase effectiveness of GDL in your state:
- Implement interventions that support longer learner's permit holding periods and
restrictions on nighttime driving, and the number and age of passengers that new
drivers can carry.
- Continue to educate the public about your state's requirements on extended learner's
permit holding periods, nighttime driving restrictions, and passenger restrictions.
Parents especially need to be aware of major risks to teen drivers and existing
laws, and parental education programs are encouraged.
Presentations from the Symposium
PDF Presentations on Tuesday, February 6, 2007
- Session 1 – Teens and Driving: What's Known and Research Gaps
- Session 2 – Graduated Driver Licensing: What's Known and How to Improve
- Session 3 – Beyond GDL: Other Pieces of the Comprehensive and Collaborative Strategy
PDF Presentations on Wednesday, February 7, 2007
- Session 3 – Beyond GDL: Other Pieces of the Comprehensive and Collaborative Strategy
- Session 3 – Key Constituencies Panel
- Closing Session: Realizing the Vision
Latest News:
Experts report progress in reducing teen driver crashes but maintain states, parents
can do more
Fatal crashes involving 16 year old drivers in 2005 were at their lowest level since
1992, despite the highest national population of 16 year olds (4.2 million) since
1977, according to researchers gathered at a National Safety Council symposium on
teen driving. These reductions are due in large measure to implementation of Graduated
Driver Licensing (GDL) systems in many states, researchers said. Learn more...
'Chicago Tribune' recognized for teen driver series
The
National Safety Council recognized the Chicago Tribune for
its on-going “Teens at the Wheel” series during the opening session of the International
Symposium on Novice Teen Driving: GDL and Beyond, on Feb. 5 in Tucson. Bill Rood,
Chicago Tribune deputy editor, was on hand to accept the special recognition from
NSC Executive Vice President Paulette Moulos. More than 100 scientists, traffic
safety advocates and state and federal officials are attending this week’s event.
National Safety Council Teen Driver Symposium to review latest data
Experts from across the country and around the world are gathering this week in
Tucson to review scientific findings on teen driving and to recommend a comprehensive
approach to making young drivers, their passengers and all of us safer on the road.
Learn
more...
Organizing Committee Members:
- Pamela Chapman, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Richard Compton, Ph.D., National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Susan Ferguson, Ph.D., Ferguson International
- James Hedlund, Ph.D., Highway Safety North
- Mei-Li Lin, Ph.D., National Safety Council
- Dan Mayhew, Traffic Injury Research Foundation
- Ruth Shults, Ph.D., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Bruce Simons-Morton, Ed.D., National Institutes of Health
- Deb Trombley, National Safety Council
- James Wright, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Contact Us
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact
Deb Trombley, Symposium Coordinator,
at the National Safety Council (phone: 630-775-2250).
This conference was supported by CDC conference grant U13/CE001161-01. The meeting
materials and content are solely the responsibility of the respective authors and
do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
