It makes sense: You’re not perfect the first time you try something. You don’t hit a hole-in-one your first time on the golf course. You can’t paint a masterpiece the first time you pick up the paint brush. And you aren’t an expert driver when you first get your license.
Though a lot of teens might feel like they own the road when they buckle in with their brand new license, the truth is in the statistics: 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age, including older teenagers.
Facts like those are, at least in part, behind the idea of graduated driver licensing (GDL). The system slowly phases new drivers into full driving privileges, gradually increasing the level of their license as they gain skills and experience.
There are three stages to GDL. Starting out, there’s the supervised learner’s period; then, the next step, after passing a road test, is an intermediate license that limits high-risk situations; lastly, a license with full driving privileges.
To teens, it might sound like an unfair proposition, but it’s all about driving safety. Teens are more apt to take risks when driving, and when something goes wrong, they don’t have the experience with safe driving practices to know how to handle it. While not every teen driver will throw caution to the wind, it’s hard to estimate which ones will. That’s why many states have adopted preventive measures like GDL – if teen drivers start off safe, there’s hope that accident rates will go down.
In fact, many states that have made the shift to GDL are seeing improved teenage driving safety. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, U.S. states that have adopted elements of graduated licensing have experienced crash reductions of about 10 to 30 percent. Currently, GDL laws vary from state to state, so it’s important to find out what the laws are where you live. But there is legislation under consideration that could make GDL more streamlined. The Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection Act of 2009 (STANDUP Act) would establish minimum federal requirements for a national Graduated Driver Licensing law to be consistent nationally.
It’s a good idea to reinforce driver safety tips with your teens at home – and in practice. Set a good example for teen drivers and they’ll be on their way to becoming dependable drivers, one step at a time.
