Spatial variation in teens’ crash rate reduction following the implementation of a graduated driver licensing program in Michigan

• Published in: Accident analysis and prevention Vol. 125; pp. 20 - 28
• Main Authors: Goldstick, Jason E., Carter, Patrick M., Almani, Farideh, Brines, Shannon J., Shope, Jean T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2019
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Automobile Driving - education; Censuses; Commerce; Crash risk; Education, Nonprofessional; Female; Graduated driver licensing; Harm Reduction; Humans; Law Enforcement; Licensure; Male; Michigan; Police; Policy; Risk; Schools; Spatial; Spatial Analysis; Teen drivers; Michigan; Crash risk; Graduated driver licensing; Spatial; Teen drivers
• ISSN: 0001-4575; 1879-2057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2019.01.023

•There was a 34% reduction in teen injury crashes following GDL implementation.•The post-GDL teen injury crash rate reduction showed significant spatial variation.•Post-GDL crash rate reductions were larger in areas with more alcohol outlets.•Post-GDL crash rate reductions were smaller in areas with more schools.•Areas with movie theatres showed larger post-GDL crash rate reductions after dark. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury, and teen drivers contribute disproportionately to that burden. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs are effective at reducing teen crash risk, but teen crash rates remain high. Between-state variation in the teen crash rate reduction following GDL implementation has been documented, but this is the first study to examine small-area variation in such a reduction. Fusing together crash data from the Michigan State Police, census data, and organizational data (alcohol outlet, movie theatre, and school locations), we analyzed spatial correlates of teen injury crash, and place-based features that modified the injury crash rate difference following GDL implementation. Specifically, using census-based units, we estimated changes in injury crash rates among teens using negative binomial regression controlling for spatial autocorrelation, and tested whether any measured spatial characteristics modified the crash rate change in the pre versus post GDL periods. There was a substantial reduction in teen crashes after GDL implementation (RR = 0.66, 95%CI: [0.65, 0.67]), and this effect was robust across gender and time-of-day (light/dark). We found evidence that this reduction varied across space; areas with more alcohol outlets corresponded to a larger daytime crash rate reduction post-GDL, while areas near schools corresponded to a smaller daytime crash rate reduction. Concentrations of movie theatres corresponded to larger post-GDL crash rate reductions after dark. Maximizing the substantial successes of GDL programs requires understanding why crash rate reductions were larger in some areas following GDL implementation, and harnessing that understanding to improve its effectiveness across a state, focusing on identifying priorities for improving driver training (e.g., by parents and driver educators), law enforcement, and future policy changes to current GDL laws.