British Columbia touts success of graduated licencing

Source: CHTV.com

ICBC data show drop in new-driver crash rate, Solicitor General says

BRITISH COLUMBIA - About 31 lives were saved and 17,500 vehicle crashes were prevented over a three-year-period by the introduction of graduated licensing for new drivers, Solicitor General Kash Heed said yesterday.

"This government toughened the rules for new drivers six years ago and it has been a public safety success," said Heed, speaking at Killarney Secondary School in Vancouver.

Heed noted that between 2003 and 2006, the number of crashes dropped by 28 per cent and there were 4,000 fewer collisions involving injuries.

The estimates were disclosed during an ICBC examination of crash data for the three years beginning in 2003, when the present system came into effect, and the period before the program began.

ICBC used comparison groups of other drivers to rule out demographics, weather and other external factors as factors. From 2003 to 2006, ICBC found the new-driver crash rate dropped by 16 per cent.

The graduated licensing program began in 1998 but was enhanced in 2003, at which time:

- the learner stage was extended from six months to a year

- the novice stage was extended from 18 months to two years

- the age at which a novice driver can have more than one person in the car (unless they are family members) was raised from 19 to 25.

The changes mean a driver can't receive a full Class 5 licence until the age of 19. Heed said increasing restrictions for learner and novice drivers allowed them time to "learn essential road-safety skills and attitudes that save lives and reduce injuries."

Beginning in 2010, drivers in the graduated-licensing program will be banned from using any hand-held or hands-free cellphones or electronic devices such as iPods while driving, including one-touch units such as a GPS.

Drivers with full licences will also be banned from using hand-held cellphones and other electronic devices while driving, but will be permitted to use one-touch or hands-free devices.