Traffic violator school masked convictions: California finally got it right.

INTRODUCTION: The negative traffic safety impact of California's prior traffic violator school (TVS) citation dismissal policy is well documented in past California TVS evaluations. METHOD: Using advanced inferential statistical techniques, the current study evaluated the substantive changes to California's traffic violator school program as required by California Assembly Bill (AB) 2499. The program changes implemented by AB 2499 appear to be associated with a specific deterrent effect as evidenced by a reliable and statistically significant reduction in subsequent traffic crashes of those receiving a masked TVS conviction as opposed to a countable conviction. RESULTS: The results suggest that this relationship exists primarily among TVS drivers with less elevated prior records. The change in status from a TVS citation dismissal to a TVS masked conviction has reduced the negative traffic safety impact of the TVS citation dismissal policy in effect prior to the implementation of AB 2499. Several recommendations are offered to enhance the positive traffic safety impact of the TVS program by further combining its educational elements with the state's post license control program by way of the Negligent Operator Treatment System. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The findings and recommendations have implications to all states and jurisdictions utilizing pre-conviction diversion programs and/or demerit point systems associated with traffic violations.

The overall program effects of California's 3-Tier Assessment System pilot on crashes and mobility among senior drivers.

INTRODUCTION: In 2007, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) undertook a pilot study of the 3-Tier Assessment System, the purpose of which was to examine, in a large-scale real-time public agency setting, the effectiveness of this method for both reducing the crash risk of individual drivers and for extending the safe driving years of Californian drivers of all ages. METHOD: The 3-Tier Assessment System consisted of tiered series of screening tools incorporated into the in-office driver's license renewal process. These screening tools identified drivers with various kinds of functional limitations (physical, visual, and cognitive/perceptual), that might impact safe driving. Paired with the screening tools were educational materials designed to improve drivers' knowledge of their own limitations, including compensating techniques. The present study is a population-based evaluation of the effects of the pilot on subsequent crash risk and mobility outcomes (including delicensure) of participating drivers age 70 and older. Pilot participants were compared with two control groups processed according to standard California DMV license renewal procedures. Because the 3-Tier Assessment System was designed to identify limitations normally associated with aging, the present analyses focus on drivers age 70 and older. However, it should be emphasized that during the 3-Tier pilot the screening tools were applied to drivers of all ages. RESULTS: There were two main findings. First, there were no consistent, statistically significant differences between the pilot and control groups in crash risk in the two years following screening. Second, pilot participants experienced statistically significant effects on mobility. These effects included delays in time to complete their license renewal, an increase in the number of assigned license restrictions, and an increase in the number of customers failing to renew their driving privilege. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, suggestions for further research are made. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: None.