This project seeks to identify why drivers who delay licensure until age 18+ have higher crash risks and whether driver training and-or GDL requirements can reduce this risk.
Status: In Development
Young people who delay getting a driver's license until age 18 or older have the highest crash rates among new drivers, which makes this an urgent safety issue for states. As more teens wait to get licensed, a growing share of new drivers enter the road system without the protections of graduated driver licensing (GDL) or required driver education. This shift has created a need to understand why delayed licensure is linked to higher crash risk and what states can do to address it.
This project examines the factors that contribute to higher crash rates among young drivers who delay licensure and explores whether extending training or GDL requirements could improve safety. The research is in development and responds to national data showing that 18 and 19‑year‑olds have the highest rate of injury and fatal crash involvement in their first year of licensure. Washington State data show the highest rates among those who first obtained a license at age 18.
The project will identify the causal factors behind these elevated crash risks and assess whether policy changes could reduce them. The research agency will conduct a national study of crash factors and complete a scoping study to guide future evaluation of driver education and GDL requirements for novice drivers aged 18 and older.
