GDL programs are widely credited for reducing crashes among the youngest drivers by roughly 20–40% ( Shope, 2007). These programs extend the learner’s permit phase, usually up to 6–12 months, and initially limit teens’ independent driving under various high-risk conditions, such as nighttime driving or transporting teen passengers ( Ferguson et al., 2007). To help address the increased crash risk among novice teen drivers, states have implemented graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs. Driver inexperience and immaturity affect all novice teen drivers whereas, other factors such as risk-taking propensity and distracted or alcohol-impaired driving affect a subset of teens, putting them at even higher crash risk ( Williams, 2003 Shope and Bingham, 2008 Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, 2009 Braitman et al., 2008). Crash risk is highest during the first years of independent driving ( Ferguson et al., 2007). Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in the United States ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). These findings can assist in planning policies and programs to reduce crashes among novice, teen drivers, while taking into account the unique perspectives and lifestyles of families living in rural North Dakota. Despite many parents expressing concern over distracted driving, there was less consistent support among parents for passenger restrictions, especially if there would be no exemptions for family members or school activities. Although few parents expressed concerns over nighttime driving, most parents supported a nighttime driving restriction with exemptions for school, work or sports-related activities. Parents expressed that they were comfortable supervising their teen’s practice driving, and few reported using resources to assist them in this role. There was nearly unanimous support for licensing teens at age 14½, as was permitted by law at the time of the interviews. Participation in school-sponsored sports and other school-related activities was highly valued. During the face-to-face interviews, parents described their teens’ daily lives as busy, filled with school, sports, and other activities that often required traveling considerable distances. A total of 28 interviews with parents of teens aged 13–16 years were conducted in four separate rural areas of the state. This study used qualitative techniques to explore parents’ perceptions of the role teen driving plays in the daily lives of rural North Dakota families, their understanding of the risks faced by their novice teen drivers, and their support for GDL. North Dakota was one of the last states to implement GDL, and the current program does not meet all of the best practice recommendations. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs allow new drivers to gain driving experience while protecting them from high-risk situations. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens in the United States.
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