An Evaluation of the Short-term Effects of the Virginia Driver Improvement Program: Interim Report

About the report:

This study attempted to determine the impact of the driver improvement program on Virginia's traffic and safety environment in terms of accidents and traffic convictions averted as a result of appropriate treatment, and to establish an ongoing system of data collection to be used by the Division of Motor vehicles to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the driver improvement program and to establish statewide norms for administrative evaluations. The driver improvement program was designed to diagnose and treat chronically unsafe drivers. Warning letters, one-time group meetings, traffic schools, suspension and other incentives are all discussed. The study found that the advisory letter as the initial contact with the negligent operator was found to be ineffective in reducing accident convictions. The group interview by itself, was found to be effective in improving some types of driving behavior. The personal interview in combination with other treatments was found to be effective in reducing major (6-point) convictions but ineffective in reducing minor convictions. No treatment was found to be effective in reducing accidents.

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