Graduated driver licensing with mandated driver training in Ohio is associated with fewer serious injury and fatal crashes among young novice drivers

Despite nationwide GDL laws, young novice driver crash risk remains disproportionately high. Some states with additional GDL-mandated driver training show reduced crash rates in young novice drivers, but the impact on crash severity is not known. Building on prior work examining overall crash outcomes in young novice drivers, we conducted a retrospective study to further examine if Ohio's comprehensive GDL system with mandated driver training protects against severe crashes early in licensure. We used a Chi-square analysis and a binomial logit analysis to examine whether and how GDL with required training was associated with involvement in severe crashes one year after licensure among young novice drivers. This study leveraged access to Ohio's licensing and crash record databases from 2017 to 2019 (when GDL applied to those <18 years) that include over 130,000 young novice drivers first licensed under 25 years old. We found significant associations between GDL-mandated driver training completion and severe crash involvement among young novice drivers. On average, compared to GDL-exempt drivers aged 18 and older, drivers under 18 who completed GDL-mandated driver education and behind-the-wheel instruction had approximately 70% lower odds of being involved in severe crashes one year after licensure. Our findings support expansion of access to GDL-required training to reduce the risk of severe crashes immediately post-licensure among young novice drivers.