GEORGIA
Graduated Driver's License: A Three-Step Process

 

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS PROGRAM AREA(S)
  Targets hard-to-reach/at risk population   Youth Programs
       
TYPE OF JURISDICTION    
  State    
       
TARGETED POPULATION(S) JURISDICTION SIZE
  Youth   7,642,207


PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Motor vehicle crashes are the primary cause of death for young drivers in Georgia. In 1996, state crash rates indicated that 396 fatalities resulted from crashes involving drivers ages 16 to 20 years old. Many of these crashes were caused by high risk behavior on the part of motorists with little driving experience.


GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In an effort to reduce traffic crashes and the resulting injuries and fatalities to young drivers in Georgia, traffic safety officials developed the Graduated Driver's License program in 1997. Objectives of the initiative were to:

  • Develop a driver education program targeting young drivers
  • Build collaboration among key highway safety advocates
  • Assure program success through legislation


STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
A strong collaboration among highway safety advocates, legislators, law enforcement officials, educators and schools, businesses and the media led to the adoption of a new state law targeting young drivers. Effective July 1, 1997, the statewide Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act established a program of licensing young drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 years old. The program required new drivers in the targeted age group to advance through a three-step licensing process designed to provide a more intense level of education while allowing the young driver to gain more experience. Each step consists of specific requirements for young drivers:

  • Step One grants an Instructional Permit to 15 year old applicants who successfully complete a written examination. The permit holder must always drive accompanied by a passenger who is at least 21 years old and has a valid Class C driver's license
  • Step Two grants an Intermediate (Class D) License to drivers between 16 and 18 years of age who have held an Instructional Permit for 12 months, and have passed the driving test. The Intermediate License carries the following restrictions:

    1) No driving between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless the driver is going to and from employment; going to and from a school event; going to and from an activity sponsored by a religious organization; or experiencing a medical, fire, or law enforcement emergency

    2) No driving with more than three non-family passengers under the age of 21

  • Step Three grants a Full Class C License to drivers ages 18 and older who hold the Class D license and have incurred no major traffic convictions during the previous 12 month


RESULTS
Although it is premature to determine long term improvement in the state crash rate for young drivers, the initial decline in fatal crashes is remarkable. The University of Georgia, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior will be conducting a formal evaluation of the new law, which is expected to last until the year 2002. A few of the exceptional, initial results include:

  • From the first half to the second half of 1997, the rate of fatal crashes per 100,000 among drivers aged 16 to 17 decreased by 35.1 percent
  • During the same time period, fatal crashes per 100,000 among drivers aged 18 to 20 decreased by 7 percent
  • Speed-related fatalities per 100,000 among drivers aged 16 to 17 years old declined 43 percent
 

FUNDING
  Section 402: $68,000
CONTACT  
 

Tim Jones, Director
Governor's Office of Highway Safety
34 Peachtree Street
Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 656–6996


NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

WINTER 2000