TEEN DRIVING

Ten years ago on July 1, 1999, a new law with the goal of saving young lives on our roadways went into effect. Now a recent evaluation of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law's impact shows that a decade later...crash rates for 16 year old drivers have declined by more than 30%! During National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 17 - 24) the Office of Highway is releasing the results of that evaluation.

* Evaluation of Delaware's GDL law by the University of Delaware

* Learn about Delaware's GDL law and the state’s rules for teen driver's

GDL laws give teenagers more behind the wheel practice after they have finished driver education classes, by requiring them to be supervised by a parent or other responsible adult for the first year or longer depending on a state’s law. GDL systems set up additional restrictions on night time driving, distractions, and the number of passengers allowed in a vehicle with the new teen driver during this time.

In 1998, the year before GDL was implemented, 16-year old drivers alone were involved in 1,001 motor vehicle crashes in our state. 10 years later, 16-year old drivers were involved in 415 motor vehicle crashes, fewer than 50% the number from a decade earlier.

OTHER INITIATIVES:

GDL Parent Orientation Program: OHS continues its efforts to improve teen driver safety. In 2004 officials created the GDL Parent Orientation Program to educate parents of teen drivers about their responsibilities under the law. Click here for program details.

DMV Teen Driving Task Force: OHS participates in a statewide Teen Driver Task Force lead by DMV. Two recently announced Task Force initiatives are the launch of a teen driver website at http://www.dmv.de.gov/services/driver_services/teen/index.shtml for teens and parents alike, and starting on July 1, 2009 the availability of bright yellow, reflective Novice Driver car magnets for parents to use when teens are behind the wheel. Click here for program details.

National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW): Congress passed a resolution establishing every third week in October as National Teen Driver Safety Week. National Teen Driver Safety Week (NTDSW) raises awareness about the tragedy of teen vehicle crashes, the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S.