Graduated Driver Licensing - Overview

Years of research have shown that new drivers, particularly young ones, have a greater risk of collision than older, more experienced drivers. The causes of this elevated risk include factors associated with a lack of driving experience and immaturity. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs were introduced to address both these factors - it allows new drivers to gain valuable, on-road experience and to mature under conditions that minimize their exposure to risk.

GDL is a multi-staged approach to licensing, typically consisting of three phases: a learner's stage, a novice or intermediate stage, and full licensure. As a driver progresses through each stage and obtains more driving experience, the driving restrictions imposed by the program are gradually relaxed until full licensure is achieved.

Since its adoption in various jurisdictions around the world, GDL has been consistently associated with significantly fewer traffic collisions, injuries, and deaths.

This section of the Young Driver Safety Resource contains an inventory of GDL programs that includes detailed information regarding the various GDL programs for passenger vehicles and motorcycles across all Canadian provinces and territories as well as a summary table that compares program features across jurisdictions. In addition, this section also contains an overview of GDL and its principles, research references, publications, and links to related organizations.