Effects of a Traffic Safety Film or a Drive Test with Counseling Session for Renewal Drivers License Applicants with Poor Prior Records: An Evaluation of the Poor Driver Component of the California Selective Testing Program

摘要

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of more indepth renewal procedures for applicants with poor prior three year accident and conviction records. Renewal applicants with poor records who were required to take a longer written test which covered both law and 'safe driving' items and to view a film focusing on defensive driving showed no significant treatment effects on subsequent accidents or convictions. Similar non-significant results occurred for applicants with poor records who were required to take the new written test and a diagnostic drive test with counseling sessions. Both film and drive test group subjects showed a directional reduction in convictions and a directional increase in fatal and injury accidents. The programs evaluated here are more expensive to administer than the current renewal licensing system. In addition, the data obtained are suggestive of an increase in societal costs resulting from fatal and injury accidents.