Effects of high school driver education on motor vehicle crashes, violations, and licensure

Objectives: We sought evidence in the research literature to determine if ( 1) high school-aged persons who enroll in a driver education course have fe wer motor vehicle-related crashes or violations, or are more likely to obta in a drivers license, than those who do not enroll in driver education cour ses, and (2) the availability of high school driver education courses is as sociated with lower community rates of motor vehicle crashes among young dr ivers. Methods: To be included, a study must: (1) assess the effects of driver edu cation courses or legislation for high school-aged persons; (2) present non -self-reported data for at least one of the following outcome measures: dri ver licensure rates, motor vehicle-related violations, or crashes; (3) incl ude some form of no intervention comparison group; (4) adequately control f or potentially confounding variables; and (5) randomly assign participants to control or treatment groups, if a controlled trial. Results: Nine studies met our inclusion criteria. Based on these studies, t here is no convincing evidence that high school driver education reduces mo tor vehicle crash involvement rates for young drivers, either at the indivi dual or community level. In fact, by providing an opportunity for early lic ensure, there is evidence that these courses are associated with higher cra sh involvement rates for young drivers. Conclusions: Although few driver education curricula have been carefully ev aluated, in the absence of evidence that driver education reduces crash inv olvement rates for young persons, schools and communities should consider o ther ways to reduce motor vehicle-related deaths in this population, such a s graduated licensing.