Welcome! Richard P. Tieszen Jon Ryckman Maximize Experience, Minimize Risk.

 The situation  One solution – enhancing GDL  Effect on crashes  Safe and Sound South Dakota  Summary Young Drivers Reducing Motor Vehicle Crashes, Deaths and Injuries

Teen Crash Fatalities

Leading Cause of Death United States, Ages Source: CDC, %

Admitted to the Union in 1889 as the 40th State, South Dakota is known for beautiful scenery like Mount Rushmore and the Badlands, its rolling plains, and for the excellent people who inhabit it. Unfortunately, South Dakota is also known for having one of the worst teenage automobile crash mortality rates in the country. In fact, when compared to only its six neighboring states, the teenage motor vehicle accident mortality rate in South Dakota is 37% higher.

Teen Crash Experience Has your son/daughter been in a crash as a driver? (by age) Survey of South Dakota parents, 2011

Teen’s Crash Severity How serious was the first crash? Survey of South Dakota parents, 2011

Leading Cause of Death South Dakota, Ages Source: CDC, %

Victim role in teen driver (15-17) fatal crashes - South Dakota Source: AAA,

Driver crash involvements per million miles traveled Source: A.F. Williams, Journal of Safety Research 34 (2003) 5-15 Crash Rates by Age Why?

Crash rate per 10,000 licensed drivers Source: SD Dept of Transportation 2010 crashes only

% Crashing by number of months licensed – Teens* North Carolina Months licensed % 1.5% 1.0% 0.5% 2.5% * Beginning age 16 Universal learning curve

Increased risk of driver death during first year of driving, by number of passengers * *vs. no passengers Source: Chen et al., JAMA, 2000

Graduated Driver Licensing The Principle: Maximize Experience Minimize Risks Among all novice drivers

1 st Stage – Learner Permit  Supervised driving only (preferably 12 mo.)* 2 nd Stage - Intermediate (6 months)  Night driving restriction (10 p.m. – 6 a.m.)*  Passenger restriction (< 1 teen passenger)* 3 rd Stage Full License (until age 18)  Belt use for all occupants, all stages GDL system should, in principle, include: * Evidence documents beneficial effects of these elements

SD’s Licensing System Outdated  GDL systems address three greatest risks to young drivers  Inexperience  Multiple Passengers/Distractions  Nighttime Driving  SD’s original GDL program was on the forefront  Hasn’t evolved with new knowledge since 1999  Current system falls short of fully preparing teens to drive safely

% Crashing by number of months licensed – Teens* Months licensed % 1.5% 1.0% 0.5% 2.5% * Beginning age 16

ElementCurrentRecommended Learner permit6 mo.First 12 mo. Nighttime limit10 pm – 6 am (Under age 16 only) 10 pm – 6 am Passenger limitNone < 1 teen South Dakota ’ s Current GDL System vs. recommended

16 & 17 Year-old Driver Death Rate * by Time and Presence of Passengers Source: Chen et al., JAMA, 2000 *per million miles traveled

Are teen crashes just a city issue? After all, that’s where all the traffic is…

Source: SD Div. of Driver Licensing Program

Source: SD Dept. of Public Safety

Non-fatal crashes more common in cities/towns

Fatal crashes far more common on rural roads Source: SD Dept. of Public Safety

Young drivers have more trouble on gravel Source: SD Dept. of Public Safety

Effects of comprehensive GDLs  Multiple passenger crashes decreased 32% when NC added a one passenger limit to their GDL.  Comprehensive GDLs produce substantially greater crash reductions that limited GDLs.  Best GDLs reduce crashes 40% among 16 year-olds.

Crash rate ratio for 16 & 17 year-olds vs year-olds, NC GDL 16y/o 17y/o

Parents Strongly Support GDL

Parents strongly support GDL  National Survey 2010:  90% approve night limit  88% approve passenger limit  78% support passenger limit of zero or one teen  60% prefer learner period of 12 months or longer

Do you think South Dakota should increase the permit length to 12 months? Survey of South Dakota parents, 2011

Data was gathered from the South Dakota Department of Transportation, and a survey of South Dakota parents of teenage drivers was performed. Parents generally support GDL, but it is evident that its value is underestimated at this time. 83% of polled parents feel that their children did not receive adequate supervision during the learning period.

Conditions where teen did not get enough practice Survey of South Dakota parents, 2011

Conditions parents believe are most risky for teens Survey of South Dakota parents, 2011

Do you think South Dakota should limit newly licensed teen drivers to no more than one teen passenger? Survey of South Dakota parents, 2011

Teen driver as chauffeur

Summary  GDL addresses the major teen health issue  Protects teenagers (& other road users)  Inexperience is the issue (not age or misbehavior)  Supports parents, and they like it  SD GDL hasn’t kept up with current research

Summary - continued  SD GDL hasn’t kept up with current research  Need passenger limit  Needs to focus on experience rather than age  Learner period is too short to provide adequate experience while supervised by an adult

South Dakota’s GDL System ElementCurrentRecommended Learner Permit3 months*First 12 months Nighttime Limit 10pm - 6am Under age 16 only 10pm - 6am Months Passenger LimitNone <1 teen Months 13-18

Who are we? AAA South Dakota American Family Insurance Avera Girls Scouts Dakota Horizons Hayward Fire & Emergency Services Northern Lights SADD Regional Health Sanford Health Sioux Empire Safety Village South Dakota Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics South Dakota Emergency Medical Services for Children Please visit Safe and Sound South Dakota on Facebook South Dakota Insurance Alliance South Dakota Safety Council South Dakota Sheriff’s Association South Dakota Voices for Children State Farm Insurance Volunteers of America – Dakotas You are Precious Cargo.com