To determine the effect of differing licensure practices on the crash rate of young drivers, data from state reports of motor vehicle crashes involving nonfatal and fatal injuries were analyzed for a group of contiguous states and areas within states: Delaware, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Upstate New York (North of New York City), Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York), and New Jersey. Delaware and Connecticut, which allow unrestricted licensing at age 16, showed the highest rates of 16-year-old driver involvements in nonfatal and fatal injury crashes. Pennsylvania and Upstate New York, which have night driving curfews for 16-year-olds, showed lower crash rates overall and much lower crash rates during their respective curfew hours. Long Island and New Jersey, where unsupervised driving by 16 year-olds is generally not allowed, showed the lowest crash rates both for 16-year-olds and for 16 and 17 year-olds combined. Extended periods of supervised practice driving, night driving curfews, and delayed full privilege licensure were identified as countermeasures for reducing the crashes of young drivers. (A)
Abstract