Author Description

Motor vehicle crash rates for teen drivers during the learner's permit phase are relatively low and comparable to those of adult drivers. However, once teenagers begin driving independently, the crash risk increases significantly at licensure and remains high during the first few months of solo driving. BTSCRP Research Report 13: Outcomes of Variability in Teen Driving Experience and Exposure: Evidence from Naturalistic Driving Studies, from TRB's Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program, provides insights on how exposure to driving during the learner's permit period and the first months of driving independently, including driving in diverse environments, impacts safety outcomes in later driving.