Graduated Driver Licensing: California Program

Abstract

California’s Graduated Driver Licensing program helps combat the disproportionately high rate of motor vehicle collisions and resulting traumatic brain injuries involving young drivers, particularly those under the age of 18. By allowing new drivers the opportunity to gain experience through exposure of conditions that gradually increase in risk, drivers are able to understand and curb some risks. Certain conditions include having a nighttime driving component, highway driving age restrictions, and supervisions while driving. Under graduated licensing, young drivers are initially granted partial driving privileges so that they may gain the necessary driving experience under conditions of reduced risk. As they gain experience and mature, they are awarded broader privileges until they finally receive a full license.

Appendices

BRIO Model: Graduated Driver Licensing Program, California

Group Served: Young novice drivers .

Goal: To help combat the high rate of collisions involving young novice drivers.

Background	Resources	Implementation	Outcome
California was one of the first jurisdictions to implement a few basic elements of a preliminary GDL model (provisional licensing) in 1983, which was shown to be effective in reducing MVCs among young drivers July 1998 a more comprehensive and rigorous GDL law was implemented, entitled “Brady/Jared Teen Driver Safety Act of 1997” after two teens who were killed in MVCs in California	Primary collaborators before the law was passed were the Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC) and the California State Automobile Association After the law came into effect, the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) was responsible for a portion, with an entire coalition of stakeholders and supporters consisting over 50 different traffic safety groups, parent and teacher associations, injury prevention groups, law enforcement officials, and medical professionals Costs were minimal as the DMV did not have to change many of the basic procedures of obtaining the license	The model consists of 3 stages: learner’s permit, provisional/intermediate license, full license After the law came into effect, supporters set out to educate the public through press releases, high school visits, and parent–teacher associations Greatest challenge was the implementation of the nighttime driving restriction, which was successfully compromised on after much debate DMV responsible for licensing young drivers as well as inspecting and regulating state driving schools and setting criteria, as well as implementing and communicating any changes in law Evaluations continue to occur	Separate traffic safety research groups examined the impact of California’s GDL system Results from the studies generally indicate that parents strongly approved Significant reductions in injuries and fatalities specific to the introduced nighttime driving and passenger restrictions were witnessed

Life Space Model : Graduated Driver Licensing Program, California

Sociocultural: civilization/community	Interpersonal: primary and secondary relationships	Physical environments: where we live	Internal states: biochemical/genetic and means of coping
Overall support and compliance for CA’s GDL by parents and teens, safety groups, politicians, and others within the CA communities Parents and police will be the primary enforcers of this legislation in order to ensure teenagers are following the restrictions	Young drivers will have to learn to say no to their teenage peers who want to drive around with them while unsupervised by an adult Teenagers are being trained and supervised while driving with their parents or guardian during the learner’s permit stage and the intermediate GDL stage	Teenagers will not be allowed to drive when it is nighttime unless supervised by an adult	Teenagers, passengers, and parents will understand the importance of complying with the passenger and nighttime restriction for their safety and well being