At a time when some people are advocating the introduction of graduated licensing in the UK, this paper discusses some American examples of how such systems can be introduced. It examines various approaches, taken in different US states, to meet the challenge of graduated licensing. In the USA, graduated licensing is becoming an increasingly popular approach to reducing new drivers' collision risks, which can be very high, especially for drivers aged 16. 23 US states and six Canadian provinces have introduced some form of graduated licensing since the start of 1994. Graduated licensing is a system for phasing in on-road driving, allowing beginners to gain driving experience under safer road conditions, and introducing them in stages to more complex driving situations. Usually, there are three stages: learner, intermediate, and full licence. The paper asks various key questions, each of which it answers by providing a recommendation. In Canada, graduated driving is applied to beginners of all ages; in the USA, it is usually applied only to younger drivers. The authors recommend using three stages, and making 16 the lowest age for starting the licensing process. Most of the questions and recommendations cover the learning and intermediate stages. Other issues include driver education and penalty provision.
Abstract