NCJ Number
109740
Journal
Alcohol Drugs and Driving Volume: 3 Issue: 3-4 Dated: (July-December 1987) Pages: 109-117
Date Published
1987
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the effectiveness of educational programs and laws and regulations in reducing adolescents' traffic accidents.
Abstract
Empirical evidence indicates that high school driver education has little or no effect in reducing crashes per licensed driver. Moreover, driver education in high school encourages teenagers to become licensed earlier than they otherwise would, thus increasing crashes per capita among teenagers when high school driver education is offered. School-based educational programs to reduce drunk driving among youth have not been adequately evaluated, but similar educational programs have had minimal success in reducing problem juvenile behaviors. In raising the driving age to 17 years old, New Jersey has achieved an overall effect of reducing traffic fatalities among teenagers. Night driving curfews for certain adolescent drivers have also been effective in reducing traffic accidents among youth. Positive results have been achieved through provisional licensing for 16- and 17-year-olds, which provides continuing monitoring of the driving records of these age groups as a condition for retaining a license. Raising the alcohol purchase age has had the most widespread influence in reducing adolescents' crash fatalities in the United States. 3 figures and 25 references.