New Jersey has three licensing policies that are unique in the United States: a minimum licensing age of 17; application of full graduated driver licensing rules to beginners younger than 21; and a requirement that reflective decals indicating license status must be affixed to the front and rear license plates of drivers in the graduated licensing system. Methods: New Jersey 17-19 year-olds were surveyed to learn their views about these policies. Results: Eighty-four percent strongly or somewhat approved of the licensing age of 17, and 77% approved of the application of GDL to older novices. Teenagers ages 18-19 with probationary licenses were only slightly more likely to say they had driven later than 11 p.m. compared with 17 year-olds (34% vs. 29%) but twice as likely to have done so multiple times. There was no difference between the age groups when asked if they had driven with more than one passenger. Only 23% of 17-19 year-olds approved of the decals policy; 58% strongly disapproved. Discussion: All three policies have been considered or are being considered in other states. The survey results indicate what teenagers directly affected by the policies think of them, which can be taken into account in consideration of their implementation. Impact on industry: Views of licensing policies by those who have been covered by them indicate potential support or obstacles to their adoption in other states. (Author/publisher)
Abstract