Transportation
Teen Drivers
Updated January 2008
In 2005, 3,467 15-to 20-year-old drivers were killed and an additional 281,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA. Fatal injuries from car wrecks are the leading cause of death for teens between the ages of 13 and 19. The risk of crashing is especially high for teens during the first few years of licensure. Inexperience and immaturity make for risky driving behavior and increase the likelihood of a crash. In the last 10 years, all states have changed their teen licensing procedures. Many states have worked to reduce teen motor vehicle fatalities and injuries through graduated driver’s licensing (GDL). This system limits the exposure to high-risk situations by gradually phasing in driving privileges for teens. GDL allows teens to gain valuable driving experience in low-risk driving situations.
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NCSL Publications
- "Traffic Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Action 2007," Transportation Series No. 32, December 2007, by Melissa Savage, Matt Sundeen, and Anne Teigen.
- Teen Driving -- Graduated Driver's Licenses and More, Transportation Review, June 2007 by Anne Teigen.
- "Keeping Teen Drivers Safe," LegisBrief, March 2007 by Melissa Savage.
- "Traffic Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Action 2006," Transportation Series No. 31, March 2007, by Melissa Savage, Matt Sundeen and Jeanne Mejeur.
- "Traffic Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Action 2005," Transportation Series No. 21, December 2005, by melissa Savage, Matt Sundeen and Jeanne Mejeur.
- "Traffic Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Action 2004," Transportation Series No. 20, December 2004, by Melissa Savage, Matt Sundeen and Jeanne Mejeur.
- "Surviving Driving," February 2004, State Legislatures by Melissa Savage.
- "Highway Safety and Public Health: State Legislative Update, 2003," Transportation Series, January 2004, No. 19 by Melissa Savage, Matt Sundeen, Cathrine Chan.
- Protecting Children: A Guide to Child Traffic Safety Laws, December 2002 By Melissa A. Savage, Irene Kawanabe, Jeanne Mejeur, Janet B. Goehring, James B. Reed.
- Teen Drivers, Transportation Review, August 2002 by Irene Kawanabe
Other Links
NCSL Contact
Melissa Savage
Anne Teigen
 Traffic Safety page
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