Citation

Lewis-Evans B, Lukkien C. Proc. Australas. Road Safety Res. Policing Educ. Conf. 2007; 11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, copyright holder varies, Publisher Monash University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The New Zealand Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS) is designed to allow novice drivers to mature and gain driving experience under conditions of reduced risk. To examine the effectiveness of the GDLS, the Ministry of Transport undertook an analysis to understand how the crash involvement of novice drivers change as they moved through the New Zealand GDLS. Crash profiles were created by data matching of the New Zealand licence and crash databases, covering a time period from 1999-2006. These crash profiles show that the initial learner period of the GDLS is relatively safe and the time at which novice drivers are involved in the highest number of crashes, is during the first few months of solo driving. Individuals who had not gained a full licence by the end of the period examined had an elevated level of crash involvement in the first 12 months of solo driving compared to individuals who had gained a full licence. Ultimately the crash profiles demonstrate the importance of both age and experience on the crash involvement of novice drivers and the benefits of the learner period of the New Zealand GDLS.