Novice and Teen Drivers: Nature, Patterns, and Habits

Introduction

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults and these age groups continue to be over-represented in crashes and fatalities both per-capita and in relation to how much they drive. Teen driver safety is impacted by a confluence of developmental, physiological and social factors. While there have been noted shifts in the age at which drivers obtain their license, less is known about the type and circumstances of novice driving. Moreover, more work is needed to explore how norms and rules around novice driving, responsibilities and vehicle sharing compare with parental expectations.

Project Goal and Plan

The goal of this research is to examine the nature of driving done by novice drivers and parental expectations of novice driving. The project consists of a series of tasks, including a literature scan; convening of an advisory group of relevant experts and stakeholders; a qualitative exploration of young learners and parents’ perceptions and expectations, and nationally representative surveys of novice drivers and their parents. Collectively, the outcomes from the project should inform stakeholders about driving behaviors for this vulnerable driver group and potential areas for focused remediation.