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
|