Turning Teens into Safer Drivers
Posted on October 19, 2015
When we reported on teen driver safety in 2010, 16- to 20-year-old drivers had the highest fatal crash rate of any age group in the United States. To help address this, many states adopted laws restricting teen driving. Late last year, our work led to federal action that may help states with the design of these laws.
Because it’s National Teen Driver Safety Week, buckle up for a crash course in graduated driver licensing laws and their effects on teen driver safety.
Putting the brakes on risk
Teens tend to engage in higher risk behaviors. While you can’t force teens to make better decisions, graduated driver licensing laws can help mitigate risks behind the wheel. How? By requiring things like
- a learner’s permit stage when more experienced drivers supervise new ones
- limited or no driving after dark
- limits on the number of passengers
- no phones or other electronic devices while driving
- driver’s ed courses.
- Questions on the content of this post? Contact Susan Fleming at flemings@gao.gov.
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