Professional Documents
Culture Documents
6 – 19% reduction in
crashes of 17-year-olds
• No reliable data on
young driver licensing
− Current proportion
licensed?
− Historical trends?
Available at
www.AAAFoundation.org
Study Objectives
• Determine proportion licensed
− Within one year of state minimum age
− Before turning 18
• Examine factors associated with licensure timing
• Investigate possible reasons for delay
− GDL makes it difficult or undesirable?
− Costs?
− Lack of perceived need/interest?
− Other factors?
Methods
• Nationally-representative survey
− 1,039 18- to 20-year-olds
• Questionnaire covered:
− Current license status
− Age at licensure, permit
− Reasons for delay
• 19 items: Very important reason
Somewhat important reason
Minor reason
Not a reason
Licensure Status at Time of Survey
Revoked/Suspended/
Expired, 1%
No
license/permit
17%
Permit, 12%
Licensed,
70%
Timing of Licensure
54%
44%
w/in 1 yr Before 18
Factors Associated with
Getting License Before 18th Birthday
Household Income
< $20K/year: 25% licensed before 18
> $100K/year: 79%
Race/ethnicity
Non-Hispanic white: 67% licensed by 18
Non-Hispanic black: 37%
Hispanic: 29%
Self-Reported Reasons for Delay
(Among Those Not Licensed by 18)
• 44% - No car
• 39% - Could get around without driving
• 36% - Gas too expensive
• 35% - Just didn’t get around to it
• 30% - Nervous about driving
• 29% - Just not interested
• 28% - Had to complete driver education first
• 25% - Parents too busy
• 21% - Respondent too busy
• 17% - Could connect with friends online
Delaying Licensure for the Purpose of
Avoiding GDL?
• 23% - special requirements for young drivers
made it hard to get a license