California Senate Bill 483 (Chapter 776, 1982) authorized the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to establish a demonstration Provisional Driver License Program for drivers under 18 years of age. DMV implemented this program on October 1, 1983. The present report addresses the impact of provisional licensing on 1) statewide accident rates of young teenagers in California, 2) individual driver records of young teenage licensees, and 3) administrative process measures related to individual drivers. An evaluation of the provisional postlicensing control system is also included. The findings of the study provide evidence that provisional licensing reduced by 5.3% the rate of accidents involving 15-17-year-old drivers. This effect represents an accident avoidance of 2,436 per year. Evidence was also found that the program annually prevented 1,666 accidents 1,023 convictions for serious offenses, and 27,638 total convictions, and that provisional postlicensing control significantly contributed to these positive effects. It is recommended that provisional licensing be continued and that California consider a variety of program enhancements. (A)
Abstract