This study found 1 in 3 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) acquired a driver’s license, compared to 83.5% of other adolescents. Of autistic adolescents who acquired a learner's permit, nearly 90% got licensed within 2 years of receiving it. These results show that license-related decisions are primarily made before the learner permit phase of driving, rather than during the learning-to-drive process.
After linking NJ’s statewide driver licensing and crash databases, this study found that 92% of intermediate drivers’ trips followed the passenger restriction of GDL and 97% followed the nighttime restriction of GDL. Compliance, however, was significantly lower among those living in low-income and urban areas, among male drivers, on weekends, and in summer.
This study summarizes methodological issues surrounding studies of compliance with Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) restrictions among young drivers with intermediate driver's licenses. The study uses a novel application of the quasi-induced exposure (QIE) technique to the measurement of GDL compliance among young drivers in New Jersey. Using the QIE method, the study estimated that 8% of drivers' trips were not in compliance with the GDL passenger restriction.
Newlylicensed teens with ADHD have an estimated 36% higher crash risk than other newly licensed teens, much lower than previously reported in other scientific studies. This risk persists during their initial driving years, regardless of gender or age when licensed. More research is needed to determine how ADHD affects crash risk to develop effective programs to manage that risk.
After comparing crash rates of older and younger novice drivers, the findings support current GDL policies in NJ for 17- to 20-year-old drivers but nothing compelling to adopt additional policies for drivers licensed at age 21 to 24. More research is needed on crash risk beyond age when licensed to help explain differences in long-term crash risk for young novice drivers.
This study examined the question of whether GDL restrictions should be applied to novice drivers age 18 and older. Novice drivers, ages 18 to 20, had initial high crash rates that steeply declined over the period of early licensure. This warrants further consideration of mandatory supervised learning periods, passenger limits, and nighttime driving restrictions.
This study validated the quasi-induced exposure (QIE) methods used to assess young driver trends. These methods can be used to address broader foundational and applied questions in young driver safety.
The New Jersey GDL decal provision was implemented in May 2010, and this study found that it was not associated with a change in citation or crash rates among NJ drivers under 21 years of age with learner’s permits between January 2006 and January 2012. The findings contrast with previous research that found a significant decrease in the crash rates of drivers with intermediate licenses after the decal provision.
This study looked at licensing age, driving experience, and GDL license phase in relation to crash rates among young NJ drivers. Findings show that teen drivers have a steep increase in crash risk at the point of transition from intermediate to full licensure. These findings support the recommendation to extend the age requirement for the intermediate license phase to age 21.
This study found that 65% of 17-year-olds living in the highest-income zip codes were licensed in the first month of eligibility compared with 13% of those living in the lowest-income zip codes. Moreover, the younger one obtains an intermediate license, the earlier the graduation to a full license.
NJ’s GDL decal provision is associated with a sustained two-year decline in crash rates among intermediate teen drivers. After comparing monthly rates of police-reported crashes in the four years pre-decal and two years post-decal, the crash rate declined 9.5%. More research is needed to understand how these decals may work to reduce teen driver crashes.
Findings show that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) licensing data is not accurate when compared to NJ administrative licensing data. Future researchers should avoid using FHWA licensing data and instead encourage FHWA to work with state licensing agencies to improve the accuracy of its data.
Traditional methods for determining crash responsibility may not be accurate since issuance may vary by factors that are independent of fault, such as age and gender. These methods also do not capture driver behaviors that, while not unlawful, are still indicative of fault. An alternative method based on identifying crash-contributing driver actions should be used instead.
Crash involvement of an estimated 1,624 intermediate drivers was prevented in the first year after the NJ GDL decal's implementation, as well as a 9% decrease in the rate of police-reported crashes among intermediate drivers and a 14% increase in GDL-related citations issued to intermediate drivers. States considering implementing decals can look to NJ’s experience to shape their strategies.
This study found that not wearing a seat belt is 121% more prevalent in communities with the largest percentage of people living with 3 or more vulnerability indicators.
Dr. Emma Sartin, a research scientist at the NJ-SHO Center for Integrated Data, was recently recognized for her research investigating and alleviating disparities in health behaviors and improving physical and social outcomes for marginalized populations.
Some medications, such as antihistamines and antidepressants, can impact a person’s driving and are considered potentially driver-impairing (PDI). Over half of older Medicare beneficiaries involved in crashes in NJ were exposed to two or more of these medications before and after a crash.
