Views of parents of teenagers about graduated licensing systems

Several states enacted elements of graduated licensing systems in 1996. Connecticut introduced a six-month required learner's permit period. Florida enacted a six-month learner's period plus a night driving curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds. Parents of 15-year-olds in these states were surveyed to determine their views concerning the new requirements. Parents of graduating seniors in Connecticut and three other northeastern states also were surveyed. Results indicate that, in all six populations, support for graduated licensing was strong. Parents of 15-year-olds in Connecticut and Florida endorsed their new licensing systems, even though there was recognition that they and their children would be inconvenienced to some extent, and many wanted even tougher Licensing provisions. Eighty-two percent of Connecticut parents of 15-year-olds thought there should be a night driving curfew for initial license holders, a provision that had been considered but was rejected. (C) 1998 National Safety Council and Elsevier Science Ltd.