TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Young driver licensing and crash outcomes in Ohio: can comprehensive driver education policy protect those most at risk? [conference abstract #130]
JO  - Injury prevention
A1  - Walshe, Elizabeth A.
A1  - Wyner, Abraham J.
A1  - Cheng, Shukai
A1  - Zhang, Robert
A1  - Gonzalez, Alexander K.
A1  - Oppenheimer, Natalie
A1  - Romer, Dan
A1  - Winston, Flaura K.
SP  - A46
EP  - A47
VL  - 28
IS  - Suppl 1
N2  - SAVIR 2022 Conference Abstracts    Statement of Purpose Despite graduated driver licensing laws (GDL), novice driver crashes remain high in the US. This is a significant, yet preventable, public health problem. Indeed, not all states mandate driver education for novices, and only 15 states include professional behind-the-wheel (BTW) driver training. Furthermore, these programs are only mandated for drivers under age 18. In Ohio, where driver education including BTW training (plus GDL) is required for license applicants <18 years, we conducted a large population-based, prospective study to examine differences in licensing examination and crash outcomes for drivers <18 versus 18-24 years, who are exempt.   Methods/Approach State-wide licensing data in Ohio from 2018 were linked with subsequent police-reported crash records. The sample included N= 136,643 first-time license applicants aged 16-24, of which N= 129,897 received a license. First licensing examination outcome (pass/fail) and first police-reported crash in the initial 2- and 12-months post-licensure (3,789 and 16,215 crashes respectively) were profiled by age, sex, time in learner permit, and tract-level sociodemographics. Regression models assessed the association between age at licensure and crash outcomes, while controlling for covariates.   Results License applicants age 18 were up to 73% more likely to fail their first license examination, and up to 54% and 31% more likely to have a first crash in the first 2- and 12-months post-licensure (respectively) when compared to license applicants age 16. The relationship between age and crash outcomes remained when controlling for time in learner permit and tract-level SES.   Conclusion In Ohio, drivers licensed at age 18 were at highest risk for crashes post-licensure, and 16 year-olds were among the lowest risk age groups.   Significance Ohio's driver license policies may offer protection against crashes for the most at-risk new drivers, a finding that should be tested in a randomized trial.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1353-8047
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2022-SAVIR.119
ID  - ref1
ER  -