A Re-Evaluation of Group Driver Improvement Meetings

By: Ronald S. Coppin, William C. Marsh, & Raymond C. Peck

The group approach originally evaluated in 1961 (Coppin, Report #9) was re-evaluated to determine if the program was still effective. Both studies utilized a control group for comparison, although assignment to treatment was not random. Both reports indicated that the approach was an effective means of reducing violations, but there was no evidence of reduced accident frequency. It was recommended that different types of group and individual approaches be tried so that an optimum approach could be developed. It was also recommended that classical experimental design procedures be used in subsequent evaluations, including randomization.

Application of Behavior Change Theory to the Development of an Enhanced California Negligent Operator Treatment and Evaluation System

By: Robert A. Roberts

Through this critical review of the literature and evaluation of warning letter contents, the foundation has been set for the development of an enhanced negligent-operator treatment and evaluation system (ENOTES) for California. Criteria to evaluate the treatment letters were developed from the 16 components of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change that, incidentally, incorporates the majority of the recommendations made by traffic safety researchers over the past 50 years. The evaluated studies were tabulated by the strength of the evidence supporting each treatment in terms of the quality of the research and the validity of the methods as defined by the degree to which they reflected components of the TTM. Overall, the research designs were outstanding. However, the warning letters themselves were weaker, and generally not strongly tied to a theory of behavior change. On average, 2.5 of the six General Stage, 1.8 of the five Early Stage, and 0.29 of the five Late Stage TTM elements were utilized. No balanced treatment letters were identified that incorporated the majority of the TTM elements available from all three stages. A definite opportunity exists to strengthen the effectiveness of letter treatments through intelligent use of the TTM

An Evaluation of Factors Associated with Variation in DUI Conviction Rates Among California Counties

By: Helen N. Tashima & Scott V. Masten

Although California’s statewide driving-under-the-influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI) conviction rate has improved over time from 64% in 1989 to 79% in 2006, the DUI conviction rates vary considerably among counties. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with differences among California county DUI conviction rates averaged from 2000-2006. The three approaches to obtain information were: (a) surveys sent to California judges, prosecuting attorneys, public and private defense attorneys, and court administrators; (b) face-to-face interviews conducted with California judges, prosecuting attorneys, and public and private defense attorneys; and (c) analyses of various county-level demographic and socioeconomic factors, DUI arrest and conviction process measures, and crash/recidivism variables. It was found that counties with higher DUI arrest rates tend to have lower DUI conviction rates. Counties with high DUI conviction rates tend to convict at lower BAC levels and have higher percentage usage of blood BAC tests. Counties also varied in their alcohol-reckless conviction rates as well as the BAC levels considered appropriate for negotiating alcohol-reckless plea bargains. While the 7-year (2000-2006) statewide average percentage of DUI arrestees convicted of alcohol-reckless driving was 8.1%, county percentages ranged from 0% to 22.6%. Higher prosecution caseload as measured by county violent crime rates isassociated with lower DUI conviction rates, while shorter lengths of time from arrest to conviction are associated with higher DUI conviction rates. Varying prosecution policies were strongly identified by survey respondents as influencing variation in county DUI conviction rates. Convicting for drug-only DUI was considered to be very difficult due to the lack of scientifically based per se levels of drug impairment. Recommendations are made based on these findings.

An Abstract of The Effectiveness of a Uniform Traffic School Curriculum for Negligent Drivers

By: Richard M. Harano & Raymond C. Peck

Evaluate the effectiveness of a uniform traffic school curriculum developed for the traffic violation repeater.

An Evaluation of Some Additional Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Warning Letters

By: William V. Epperson & Richard M. Harano

To determine the effectiveness of two types of warning letters and an informational pamphlet in reducing the subsequent collision and conviction records of pre-negligent drivers. An additional study objective was to determine the effectiveness of a follow-up reinforcement letter sent to collision- and conviction-free drivers. These hypotheses were suggested by an earlier warning letter study (McBride & Peck, Report #30). This study was designed to attempt replication of the previous results.

Executive Summary of An Evaluation of Alcohol Abuse Treatment as an Alternative to Drivers License Suspension or Revocation (Final Report to the Legislature in Accord with Senate Bill (SB) 38-Gregorio)

Driver Improvement: A Survey of Personnel, Procedures and Work Climate

By: Roger E. Hagen & Rickey L.Williams

To survey factors which may have an influence on the outcome of the probation violator hearing project.

The Traffic Safety Impact of California’s New Drunk Driving Law (AB 541)-An Evaluation of the First Nine Months of Experience

By: Raymond C. Peck

To determine if the new drunk driving law (AB 541) had any impact on the incidence of alcoholrelated traffic accidents.

Negligent-Operator Treatment Evaluation System – Progress Report

By: Marsh

To describe the Negligent Operator Treatment Evaluation System (NOTES) and the Negligent Operator program elements, as it is currently implemented, which NOTES is designed to evaluate, to and describe the progress on the evaluation system itself

An Evaluation of the Specific Deterrent Effects of Alternative Sanctions for First and Repeat DUI Offenders (Volume 3 of “An Evaluation of the California Drunk Driving Countermeasure System”)

By: Helen Tashima & Raymond C. Peck

To evaluate the relative effectiveness of the licensing actions and sanctions established by Assembly Bill (AB) 541 on January 1, 1982 for first and repeat DUI offenders.