MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - A new study has found that young drivers who are gradually given full driving privileges are less likely to be injured in car crashes than counterparts who don't have such "graduated" driver's licenses.

The study was conducted by researchers at Columbia University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was published in the May issue of the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.

The study shows that restrictions on cell phone use, nighttime driving hours and number of passengers led to a 31 percent drop in injuries among 16-year-old drivers.

Most states have some form of graduated driver's license. West Virginia adopted its law in 2001.

One of the study's authors, Dr. Motao Zhu, is now an assistant professor and researcher at West Virginia University.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - A new study has found that young drivers who are gradually given full driving privileges are less likely to be injured in car crashes than counterparts who don't have such "graduated" driver's licenses.

The study was conducted by researchers at Columbia University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was published in the May issue of the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.

The study shows that restrictions on cell phone use, nighttime driving hours and number of passengers led to a 31 percent drop in injuries among 16-year-old drivers.

Most states have some form of graduated driver's license. West Virginia adopted its law in 2001.

One of the study's authors, Dr. Motao Zhu, is now an assistant professor and researcher at West Virginia University.