Effectiveness of the Dutch licence on probation. A simple demerit point system is used in the Netherlands during the first five years after having obtained the driving licence. This licence on probation (the Dutch 'beginner's licence') was introduced on 30 March 2002. In this report it has been investigated whether, after introduction, the number of severe crashes among young drivers (many of whom have a licence on probation) has seen a larger decrease than the number of crashes among a group of somewhat older drivers (of whom only a small percentage has a licence on probation). The number of severe crashes per 1.000 driving licence holders did not decrease more for the younger group than for the group of somewhat older drivers. This indicates that it is improbable that the licence on probation, as it has been applied, has had a positive effect on the novice driver's involvement in crashes.
Abstract