Citation

Sangji NF, Ramly EP, Kaafarani HM, Seethala R, Raybould T, Camargo CA, Velmahos G, Masiakos PT, Lee J. J. Pediatr. Surg. 2015; 50(10): 1791-1796.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. Electronic address: lee.jarone@mgh.harvard.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2015.06.004

PMID

26235531

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) programs phase in driving privileges for teenagers. In 2007, Massachusetts implemented a stricter version of the 1998 GDL law, with increased fines and education. This study evaluated the impact of the law on motor vehicle crash (MVC)-related health care utilization and charges.

METHODS: Massachusetts government and US Census Bureau data were analyzed to compare the rates of MVC-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospital charges before (2002-2006) and after (2007-2011) the 2007 GDL law. Three driver age groups were studied: 16-17 (evaluating the law effect), 18-20 (evaluating the sustainability of the effect), and 25-29 years old (control group).

RESULTS: MVC-related ED visits per population decreased after the law for all three age groups (16-17: 2326 to 713; 18-20: 2110 to 1304; 25-29: 1694 to 1228; per 100,000, p<0.001), but the decrease was greater amongst teenagers (16-17: -69%; 18-20: -38%) compared to the control group (-27%); p<0.001. MVC-related hospital charges per population also decreased for teenagers but increased for the control group (16-17: $2.70m to $1.45m; 18-20: $3.52m to $2.26m; 25-29: $1.86m to $1.92m; per 100,000, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The 2007 GDL law in Massachusetts was associated with significant decreases in MVC-related health care utilization and hospital charges among teenage drivers.

Language: en