NJ Decal Study Cited as Most Influential, Findings Point to Reduction in Teen Crashes
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the little red decals that permit any probationary driver license holders in New Jersey must affix to their vehicle license plates are once again in the news. This time, a study examining the first-ever-Graduated Driver License (GDL) identifier in the U.S. was named the most influential research article of 2012 in an online poll.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, looked at the decal’s impact on enforcement of New Jersey’s GDL program and crashes involving probationary (first year) drivers. Linking the state’s licensing and motor vehicle crash databases from January 1, 2008 through May 31, 2011, the researchers compared monthly rates of GDL-related citations and crashes for probationary drivers in the two years before the decal took effect and in the year after.
This is the first scientific look at the effect of the use of decals on crash rates, even though they’ve been used in other countries (e.g., Australia, Canada, England, Japan) for many years. The findings are significant. During the first year of the decal requirement in New Jersey (referred to as Kyleigh’s Law), GDL-related citations issued to probationary drivers increased 14 percent. The rate of police-reported crashes among the same group declined 9 percent. The study also found that multiple-vehicle crashes decreased by 8 percent and crashes where a teen was transporting his peers dropped 9 percent. But perhaps most important is the CHOP finding that an estimated 1,624 crashes involving probationary drivers were prevented.
That’s “equivalent to the number of students attending a large high school,” says Allison Curry, PhD, MPH, lead author and director of epidemiology at CIRP at CHOP. “New Jersey youth and other road users are safer as a result of the decals.”
New Jersey has one of the most comprehensive GDL programs in the country and one of the lowest teen driver crash fatality rates. Even so, the state was able to achieve additional reductions in crashes with a decal provision as part of its GDL. Researchers at CHOP suggest that states with higher teen crash rates than New Jersey might realize even greater gains from including decal provisions as part of their GDL programs because they have more room for improvement.
CHOP’s recommendation may prompt action by other states. A new report released on February 26 by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) found that teen driver fatalities in the U.S. increased during the first half of 2012. New Jersey, however, was one of 17 states where teen fatalities decreased. The report’s author Dr. Allan Williams attributes much of the increase to the fact that the benefit of state GDL laws may be leveling off, since many of these laws have been in place for some time.
Would a decal make a difference? Clearly its having a positive impact on enforcement of the GDL restrictions in New Jersey. When police have a tool to help them enforce the proven provisions of graduate driver licensing, teens are more likely to comply lessening their crash-risk.
Not Domino
11:25 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
So is the premise here that by having the sticker on the car, the teen is guilted into obeying laws s/he would have otherwise broken, out of a fear of getting caught?
If so, I have to ask then: In the pre-sticker days, who was giving the teens the car keys and letting them break the law?
12345678
7:13 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I see very few of the decals on the cars parked at the high school. This study seems flawed on many levels. Nothing scientific about it. How many decals were actually purchased by newly licensed drivers? How many actually use them? I know we didn't purchase them, we weren't even asked if we wanted them.
been there
8:55 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
DMV won't even allow your child to attempt their behind the wheel test without the red decals.
FourScore
7:52 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Since the majority of the cars on the road that have stickers (including my own) are driven by drivers who obviously are NOT provisional drivers, I would strongly question the report’s conclusion that the reduction in accidents is directly related to the use of the sticker.
The closing statement is pure speculation; “When police have a tool to help them enforce the proven provisions of graduate driver licensing, teens are more likely to comply lessening their crash-risk.”
Sue
7:57 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I see plenty of the decals on the cars parked at my boys high school. When the kids get their permits there is information about the decals given out. Since it is required to have the 6 hours of driving with a driving school, they give out the information too.
Liberty
9:34 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Ok, what am I missing? How does this decal lessen teen crashes?
Reality Chuck
10:31 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I am going to have an "I'm not drunk" sticker put on my car. This way I won't be stopped by the police as a DUI suspected driver......Police stops resulting in DUI arrests go down and it will be a statistical success.
Jimmy P. Vertigo
10:49 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Learn how to drive your car properly and obey the traffic laws " Reality Chick ". If you could manage to do that, I'm guessing you would not be stopped for suspected DUI. No sticker is going to help a bad driver - which you obviously are since your constantly complaining you are either pulled over late at night, or followed by the police.
Reality Chuck
1:10 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
You are missing the whole point of the nonsense of statistics especially by gov't to justify a program. I like and believe in the GDL but think the sticker component is nonsense. Why not also measure the number of teenagers carjacked with stickers against those without, and I'm sure it will prove that the sticker stops carjacking too...Relax my friend, there is no such thing as an "I'm not drunk" sticker.
Lt.Dan
10:50 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Nothing slows down a youngert driver like a speding ticket. The GDL decal will result in more stops as, for instance, patrol officers may check for passenger age and family relationships, which are a part of the GDL. Knowing they are more likely to be pulled over, drivers may avoid late night driving, drinking, drug use and other behaviors often connected in automotive accidents. Also, in terms of receiving a citation versus a warning, I am sure younger drivers are ticketed more often, as they should be.
That said, I would doubt the statistical basis if they are citing state data on 17 year old fatalities, a statistically insignificant sample. The study says NJ went from 2 to 1 in the first halves of 2011 to 2012. Accidents and citations are a better statistic to measure driver behavior than whether or not a fatality results.
Also, I believe this Patch article overly focuses on decals rather than the GDL program restrictions themselves.
You want to lower motor vehicle accidents immediately? Disable the ability to send and receive texts and emails in a running car.
Walter O.
10:57 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Totally agree with your comments. We would be better off disabling texting and emailing capabilities. I would go a step further and disable cell phone talking unless its mounted or Bluetooth. I hate to see women drivers with their cell phone's pressed up against their ears on the road! Not to say men don't do the same, I have only seen women. Not a fan of these red stickers, lots of problems driving through Mendham for kids with stickers on their cars. Cops have little to do and pull kids over for no reason. Not to mention creeps out there targeting young female drivers. Just my opinion...
KenD
1:48 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The biggest impact of the GDL law is the 11:00 curfew and the passenger limit. As a parent I was very reluctant to have my daughter drive around by herself with a red bullseye on the car, especially at night. I did it but with trepidation.
It can't agree more with Lt.Dan's last statement. Texting and phone use while driving is the biggest hazard on the road today. We need to beat that into our young drivers head over and over.
FourScore
2:05 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
It would make much more sense if the red stickers on the license plate were required for drivers (of any age) who’ve been found guilty of texting while driving, driving under the influence, or any other type of reckless driving. That way, the police (and other drivers) can keep an eye on the people who are really a danger on the road, instead making wide assumptions based on age or level of experience.
GiantJohn
3:12 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Decals have NOTHING to do with these reductions in accidents and fatlities..The provisions of the GDL is what is making the difference. Also please give credit to good, responsible teens and their caring and law abiding parents too! Mother Hens like Pam that think big brother and fear is the way to govern people make me sick!
been there
9:03 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I was not a proponent of the decals , but I do think they have proven to be successful in making new drivers more cognizant and not as risk taking. I think that is what we are seeing in the results from this study. Do the new drivers feel like they have a bullseye on them..... Yes, .... Are crashes down ... Yes..... If they prevent a parent from loosing a child to a senseless accident bc the risk taking is taking away by the fear of scrutiny then this the decals are successful. They are teenagers and feel indestructible and I am not afraid to tell anyone that too many parents want to be their kids friends and WON'T hold them accountable like the previous generations parents did. As a sceptic, keep the decals
In Touch
4:59 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
The decals are ridiculous. I won't let my GDL driver have them on the car other than to take the road test. I don't believe the survey measured the usefulness of the decals. There probably was no information on whether or not the decals were even on the cars in accidents. The restrictions regarding # of passengers in the car and the driving time restrictions are important, as are wearing seat belts and not using a cell phone to talk or text. The mother of Kyleigh stated that she was unaware of the passenger restrictions for new drivers. So perhaps the uproar over the decals made more parents aware of the restrictions.