Several jurisdictions in North America and elsewhere have introduced graduated licensing. It targets both the experience- and age-related factors that render young drivers at high risk of collision by imposing a set of restrictions on beginning drivers. The graduated licensing program implemented in Nova Scotia, Canada in October 1994 provided an opportunity to assess how teenagers as well as their parents have reacted to it. The study involved telephone interviews with 450 teenagers ages 16-18 to obtain information on their knowledge about the graduated licensing system, their attitudes toward it, and the level of support for and compliance with its restrictions. Parents and many teenagers endorse the graduated licensing program. In addition, the level of knowledge about the system is relatively high, attitudes toward it are favorable, and reported compliance with it is reasonably widespread. These results have relevance for policymakers and licensing authorities who are considering graduated licensing programs as well as those who already have such programs and are considering improvements. (Author/publisher)
Abstract