California Teen Passenger Deaths and Injuries Drop
14 September 2000
California Teen Passenger Deaths and Injuries Drop as Graduated Driver License Law Marks Second Anniversary
LOS ANGELES--Sept. 14, 2000--Teen passenger deaths and injuries when 16-year-olds are behind the wheel declined 21 percent statewide from 1998 to 1999, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.A new Auto Club analysis of California teen crash data reveals dramatic reductions in deaths and injuries among teens as the state marks the second anniversary of its Graduated Driver License (GDL) system.
"This analysis is especially important since California was the first state in the U.S. to adopt a meaningful passenger restriction," said Steve Bloch, Ph.D., the Auto Club's senior researcher.
"It now seems clear that this type of restriction can save lives and reduce injuries. The 21 percent decline in deaths and injuries over the first 11 months of 1999 is substantial, especially when compared to passenger deaths and injuries for 18- to 19-year-old drivers who weren't affected by GDL. In that group, teen passenger deaths and injuries increased 5 percent."
Reductions in 1999 are particularly noteworthy because in the years before GDL, teen passenger deaths and injuries for 16-year-old and 18- to 19-year-old drivers changed at very similar rates, explained Bloch. Each year on average, from 1994-1998, the number of teen passengers killed and injured decreased 4 percent for 16-year-old drivers and 3 percent for 18- to 19-year-old drivers.
The GDL law, which took effect July 1998, increased requirements for California teenagers under age 18 to obtain a full, unrestricted license. Teens are now prohibited from transporting passengers under age 20 during their first six months of licensure.
The Auto Club study also looked at the overall effect of GDL on teen driver crashes. It showed that the number of fatal and injury crashes where 16-year-old drivers were at-fault declined 20 percent from 1998 to 1999.
By comparison, at-fault crashes of 18-year-olds increased 6 percent. Prior to the GDL law, average annual changes in at-fault crashes for 16- and 18-year-old drivers were nearly identical -- less than 1 percent per year.
"These findings show quite conclusively that GDL had its intended effect of reducing teen crashes," said Bloch. "Older teen drivers who obtained their licenses before GDL did not show the kind of reductions that the affected 16-year-olds did."
Bloch cautioned that despite his analysis, it's not clear exactly how GDL works to reduce crashes. California's reduction in crashes could be a result of decreased teen driving or licensing or due to increased driving practice and better teen driving.
"Data we've analyzed so far suggest it's a combination of these factors," said Bloch. "More research is needed to determine why GDL had the effect it did on teen crashes and teen passenger deaths and injuries."
The Graduated Driver License law requires teens under 18 to hold their learner's permit for at least six months before obtaining a provisional license.
During this time, they must spend at least 50 hours behind the wheel practicing with a parent or guardian. Once they earn provisional licenses, they are prohibited from carrying passengers under age 20 for the first six months unless a licensed driver at least 25 is present. For the first year, they may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m.
The Auto Club co-sponsored the bill that became the GDL law. Although the law went into effect in July 1998, the first 16-year-olds obtained provisional licenses under the law in January 1999.
The Auto Club provides a free brochure, "Teen Drivers: A Guide to California's New Graduated Driver License," at its district offices throughout Southern California and on its Web site at www.aaa-calif.com under "member services." The brochure, which is also available in Spanish, explains California's GDL requirements, offers practice driving tips and includes a tear-out supervised driving log.
AAA launched "Licensed to Learn," its national campaign to reduce the number of teenage traffic crashes, in 1997. Since then, AAA clubs in states throughout the nation have lobbied for GDL. To date, 31 states and the District of Columbia have adopted a three-stage GDL system.
Eleven other states have adopted some components of such a system but do not fully incorporate the three stages. The national AAA goal is to have a GDL system in all 50 states.
Passengers Killed & Injured Before and After GDL:
California, January-November(a)
Passengers Ages 13-19
Age of Driver Before GDL After GDL Average % change % change
per year
1994 1998 1999 Before GDL After GDL
1994-1998 1999-1998
16 2,474 2,045 1,608 -4.3% -21.4%
18-19 5,018 4,361 4,598 -3.2% +5.4%
At-Fault Crashes of Teen Drivers Before and After GDL:
California, January-November(a)
Fatal & Injury Crashes
Age of Driver Before GDL After GDL Average % change % change
per year
1994 1998 1999 Before GDL After GDL
1994-1998 1999-1998
16 3,780 3,817 3,066 +0.2% -19.7%
18 5,731 5,871 6,212 +0.6% + 5.8%
Property Damage Crashes
16 4,746 5,199 4,416 +2.4% -15.1%
18 7.122 8,239 8,590 +3.9% + 4.3%
(a) 12-month statewide data for 1999 not yet available
