Studies and research | New drivers elsewhere | New drivers' crash rates | How graduated licensing works | Important information for parents | GLP changes: new rules for new drivers
Year after year on B.C. roads, hundreds of people die. Tens of thousands are injured. (Source: Insurance Corporation of B.C.)
Clearly, driving is risky.
But driving is especially risky when you lack experience. During its first two years, B.C.'s Graduated Licensing Program was successful in reducing the new driver crash rate by 26%. But while GLP is working, most of the crash reductions have come from the longer learner stage when new drivers must have a supervisor.
Meanwhile, drivers in the novice stage are still over-represented in crashes, being almost 45% more likely to be involved in a crash than experienced drivers. As well, these crashes tend to be more severe. One in four crashes involving GLP drivers results in an injury or fatality. The risk of being in a crash, for new drivers, is very real.
Elsewhere in North America, crash rates for new drivers are similarly high. You can reduce your riskYou don't have to be a crash tragedy. B.C.'s licensing system is intended to help reduce your risk of —
We know that graduated licensing is working at reducing new-driver crashes.
