The logic of addressing all young people is that they all are beginners when they start driving. Every novice needs time to develop driving skills in low-risk settings. Young drivers tend to be immature and impulsive, overestimating their own physical and driving abilities and underestimating dangers in the driving environment. This leads them to risky driving behaviors such as speeding, passing inappropriately, following too closely, and driving without seat belts. Young drivers frequently drive during nighttime high-risk hours, often with peers in the vehicle.
Passengers can cause distractions and create peer pressure to participate in risky behavior.
Teen passengers increase the crash risk for teenage drivers both during the day and at night. Considerable driving experience is required, after initial licensing, before a young novice achieves the dependable skills, judgment, and performance that result in safe driving. Graduated licensing programs have had a positive effect on the crash experience of young drivers in the United States and other countries, including Canada and New Zealand. In states that have adopted elements of graduated licensing, the safety benefits are evident. In Nova Scotia, crash reductions for 16-year olds ranged from 24 to 37 percent.