ACICR 2007 -2008 Annual Report Addendum - Alberta Centre for ...

Seeking Improvements to Alberta’s Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) Program
Background
Alberta instituted a GDL program in May of 2003. While there has been a
reduction in the number of casualty collisions in drivers aged 16 to 19 years,
motor vehicle collisions continue to be the leading killer of Albertans in this age
category.
In October 2005, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) published
research findings outlining best practices for graduated driver licensing in
Canada. The purpose of their report was to describe the best practices which
can be used as a standard for the development of new programs in Canada and
for the enhancing the effectiveness of those already in place. Within the
document TIRF highlights five priority areas on which jurisdictions should focus
their GDL programs.
Goal
Objective
Status
Contact
To reduce the number of casualty collisions among new, young drivers by
seeking enhanced effectiveness of Alberta’s GDL program.
To make injury prevention partners and policy-makers aware of TIRF’s
evidence-based recommendations for enhancing Alberta’s GDL program and to
seek policy changes to bring Alberta’s GDL program in line with TIRF’s priority
recommendations.
A complete package of materials about improving GDL, including a Position
Statement, has been written and posted on the ACICR website. The aim of these
materials is to coordinate the message coming from all injury prevention
partners about GDL improvements. Information on the issue continues to be
spread via the ACICR communication vehicles, through meetings with potential
partners and with policy-makers. A resolution calling for improvements to GDL
was adopted by the Alberta Public Health Association at its 2007 AGM.
Ms. Cathy Gladwin, Policy Analyst
Phone: (780) 492-9218
Email: cathy.gladwin@ualberta.ca
Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research Page 51 of 66 Annual Report Addendum 2007/2008