The effectiveness of mandating supervised driving practice requirements on improving road safety outcomes for learner drivers: A systematic review

Introduction: Supervised driving during the learner phase of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) systems is designed to reduce novice driver crash risk by enabling skill development under low-risk conditions. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of mandated supervised driving practice requirements in improving road safety outcomes for newly independent drivers. Methods: A systematic search of public health-, psychology-, and transport-databases was conducted in July 2024. This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (see CRD562807). Inclusion criteria required studies to quantify the effects of mandated supervised practice requirements on objective or self-reported safety outcomes post-licensure. Eighteen peer-reviewed studies published between 2003 and 2024 met eligibility criteria. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools, and findings were synthesised narratively. Results: Evidence consistently supported longer learner permit-holding periods and structured driver training programs as protective factors for novice drivers, with reductions observed in crash involvement and traffic offences during early independent driving. Greater supervised practice experience was also associated with safer outcomes, although evidence isolating specific hour or distance thresholds was mixed. Very limited evidence exists regarding mandated exposure to varied driving conditions. Practical Application: The greatest safety benefits arise from providing learners with sufficient time and support to gain experience under supervision, coupled with structured training that develops hazard perception and decision-making skills. Conclusions: Supervised practice remains a critical element of GDL systems, particularly when combined with minimum permit durations and high-quality training. Further research isolating individual supervised practice components is required to determine the most effective and equitable requirements for improving novice driver safety.