Reducing young driver crash casualties in Great Britain – Use of routine police crash data to estimate the potential benefits of graduated driver licensing.

Crashes involving young drivers cause significant morbidity and mortality in Great Britain. Graduated Driver Licensing is used in some countries to address this.

This study assessed potential casualty and cost savings of possible Graduated Driver Licensing programmes in Great Britain. Police road crash data were analysed to identify young drivers crashes at night or while carrying passengers. These data were then used to estimate the potential effects of Graduated Driver Licensing.

Summary of results
• 25.1% of young drivers crashes occurred between 9pm and 6am and 24.4% occurred with a 15- to 24-year old passenger in the car.
• A ‘strict’ form of Graduated Driver Licensing in Great Britain (night time restriction 9pm-6am, no 15-24 year old passengers) with 50% compliance would prevent 114 deaths and 872 serious casualties each year. The estimated value of prevention is £424M pa.
• A ‘less strict’ form of Graduated Driver Licensing (night time restriction 10pm-5am, maximum of one 15-19 year old passenger) with 50% compliance would prevent 81 deaths and 538 serious injuries. The estimated value of prevention is £273M per year.
• Implementing Graduated Driver Licensing in Great Britain could save significant numbers of lives. Public health organisations have a duty to advocate for such legislation.