Graduated Driver's Licenses Appear EffectiveMay 3, 2004
Research Summary
An analysis of the 1999, 2000 and 2001 National Household Surveys finds that states with graduated driver's licenses had lower driving-under-the-influence (DUI) rates and less incidences of heavy drinking among teens than states with less restrictive laws.According to the SAMHSA report, "Graduated Driver Licensing and Drinking Among Young Drivers," in states with the most restricted graduated driver's-license laws, 8.2 percent of 15- to 17-year-old drivers said they drove drunk in the past year, compared with 11.5 percent in less-restrictive states.
In addition, while 6 percent of young drivers nationally are defined as heavy drinkers, in states with restrictive graduated licensing laws, the percentage is 5.4. In states with the least-restrictive laws, 7.0 percent of young drivers drink heavily.
"These data show us an association between teens who value their driving privileges and states' actions to restrict driving privileges," said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie. "We need to protect our young drivers by making it clear that drinking and driving is never acceptable, and that there is no safe level of alcohol for inexperienced drivers."
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