What is Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)?

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It’s important that parents be good managers and monitors of teen driving behavior. This means setting appropriate rules, establishing driving agreements and enforcing consequences for breaking those agreements. It also means understanding where your teen is in the process of becoming a smart driver – and how much further they have to go. You can learn a lot from Graduated Driver Licensing.

Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL)

Graduated Driver Licensing is often referred to as GDL. Over the last 25 years, GDL has become increasingly used to support teens in the process of learning to drive and has become part of many state laws. GDL began with two driving studies in North Carolina in the 1970s. Both studies showed younger drivers were involved in car crashes more often than middle-aged drivers – especially between midnight and 6 AM.

Research also showed that when new drivers had young passengers, they had a significantly higher chance of being in a crash. Evaluations of GDL programs in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand have consistently found that GDL reduces the crash risk among teens and other inexperienced drivers.

How Does GDL Work?

GDL systems address high risks that new drivers face. GDL does not attempt to directly change driver behavior. Instead, it buys time by:

• Limiting a new driver’s exposure to high-risk situations – such as driving at night or carrying teen passengers.
• Allowing inexperienced drivers time to gain more experience in lower-risk situations.

Limitations are lifted gradually as a driver becomes more experienced and develops better driving skills.

A GDL system is similar to other aspects of a teen’s life in which legal restrictions are present – such as purchasing tobacco or alcohol.

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