The over-representation of young novice drivers in road collisions is a public health risk in Great Britain (GB), and worldwide. The key contributory factors to this problem are known and are cross-cultural; they are youth and inexperience. This report reviewed and synthesised evidence of effectiveness for three approaches to tackling young and novice driver safety, for consideration in GB: 1.Pre-driver education and training for those under 17 years old; 2.Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL); 3.The Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act (1995). While provision of pre-driver education and training is widespread, evidence of effectiveness is absent. Conversely, evidence of the effectiveness of GDL from countries where it has been implemented is strong and consistent. The New Drivers Act appears to have had a beneficial effect on offending patterns in GB and may have had a safety benefit through deterrence from driving. Based on the evidence, it is recommended that licensing in GB be based on a full GDL system. Analysis of STATS19 data and evidence of effectiveness in other countries suggests that a GDL system in GB could save 4,471 casualties and £224 million annually based on 17-19 year old drivers only. (Author/publisher)
Novice drivers - evidence review and evaluation : pre-driver education and training, Graduated Driver Licensing, and the New Drivers Act.
20131764 ST [electronic version only]
Crowthorne, Berkshire, Transport Research Laboratory TRL, 2013, X + 178 p., 238 ref.; Published Project Report ; PPR 673 - ISSN 0968-4093 / ISBN 978-1-908855-78-7