Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) for Teen Drivers

Drivers 16 years of age have little driving experience, putting them at high risk for traffic accidents. A series of five research papers published in a September 2002 supplement of Injury Prevention addresses reducing this risk. The papers introduce and make a case for graduated driver licensing (GDL), the system of laws and practices that gradually introduce young drivers into the driving population.

Graduated Driver License programs can be found in 31 states around the country. The GDL program permits young drivers to safely gain driving experience before obtaining full driving privileges and are generally targeted towards 14