Research to Solve A Complex Issue

Motor vehicle crashes remain the No. 1 cause of death for adolescents. Teen drivers (ages 16 to 19) are involved in fatal crashes at four times the rate of adult drivers (ages 25 to 69). Through its multidisciplinary Young Driver Research program, the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute is working to reduce the frequency and severity of teens' motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Most of our research corresponds to at least one of the following categories:

1. Teen drivers' skill acquisition and training

2. Parental enforcement and teen compliance with Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) provisions

3. Post-license safety-positive and safety-negative driving behaviors

Crashes involving teen drivers are caused by multiple factors and require comprehensive solutions. Working to develop these solutions through research is equally complex, involving many different disciplines and methods. Our team employs comprehensive, rigorous methods to both analyze factors associated with teen crashes and to develop interventions to change behaviors that contribute to these crashes. We believe that by understanding predictors of teen driver crashes, we can help prevent them.