research >>teen traffic safety

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In California, more than 900,000 teens age 15-19 possess a driver's license. Yet this prized possession comes with consequences. In 2003, 543 California teen drivers were involved in 543 crashes that resulted in death and 38,083 crashes that resulted in injury. Per 10,000 licensed drivers, their crash rate in 2003 in California resulting in injury is more than three times that of other drivers.

There are many programs aimed at reducing traffic injury and death among teens, but the task of identifying appropriate interventions can be onerous. With the intent of making this easier, the TSC developed a guide (see below) that presents the major risk factors associated with teen driving in California and that highlight policy and program strategies that may reduce those risks.

Teen driving behavior, its root causes and risks, promising or proven interventions, and best practice strategies for policy and program development are among the areas covered in the guide. Interventions discussed include graduated driver licensing (GDL), driver education, parent involvement, school-based prevention programs and youth outreach and community involvement. The report can be viewed or downloaded at the link below.

TSC Resources

"Teens and Driving in California: Summary of Research and Best Practices" Huong Bui, Lindsay S. Arnold, Jill F. Cooper, David R. Ragland. Traffic Safety Center Research Report. 2006.

"Youthquake to Jolt the Traffic Safety World: Report from a Workshop on the Newest Research," Traffic Safety Center Newsletter, Winter 2005-06.