Traffic Safety Value Of Attending Driver’s Traffic School Questioned

(I-Newswire) July 23, 2010 - WASHINGTON, DC – Reducing repeat offenders of traffic safety laws is an emerging problem and a significant highway safety issue. According to NHTSA, in 2009, nearly 5,000 people were killed in crashes by drivers who had attended a traffic violator school course within the previous twelve months.

Courts in various states may offer drivers cited for traffic violations the opportunity to attend a traffic violator school in lieu of conviction. Those who return to the court with proof of course completion have their citations dismissed and masked from public inspection. Because there is no conviction of a violation, these drivers do not have negligent-operator points (points) added to their driving record. A study being conducted by the Office of Traffic Safety.Org for drivers in Florida, Georgia and Texas indicates that the citation dismissal policy of the courts may result in increased crashes as the result of a loss of deterrence due to driver’s avoiding both the Department of Motor Vehicle’ interventions, as well as an increase in insurance premiums.

A study conducted presented evidence that the drivers who attended traffic school had a significantly higher (by 10.2%) crash rate than did a comparison group of convicted drivers after statistically adjusting for the more favorable preexisting characteristics of the traffic school group. Three other department studies found that dismissals/withholding of points in combination with other risk factors increase traffic crash propensity beyond that of drivers who meet the state’s prima facie definition of a negligent operator.

The results of the study demonstrate that any educational benefit from traffic school courses is not enough to offset the negative traffic safety impact of avoiding points made possible by the court’s citation dismissal policy. It is recommended that courts reevaluate their citation dismissal policy to unmask the original dismissal whenever a driver receives a second violation within the subsequent 18 months and eliminate the ability of the courts to dismiss more than one citation within any 18 month period via the traffic school option.

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For more information about the event at the Department of Transportation, visit www.dot.gov.

The Office of Traffic Safety.Org® is a nonprofit association dedicated to promoting safer roadways and reducing traffic casualties through community awareness. The OTS provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed to bring consciousness to federal and state highway safety plans and implement community awareness programs. Contact OTS at 954-588-2310 or visit www.officeoftrafficsafety.org.

About Office of Traffic Safety.Org:
The Office of Traffic Safety.Org® is a nonprofit association dedicated to promoting safer roadways and reducing traffic casualties through community awareness. The OTS provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed to bring consciousness to federal and state highway safety plans and implement community awareness programs. Contact OTS at 954-588-2310 or visit www.officeoftrafficsafety.org.

Company Contact Information
Office of Traffic Safety.Org
Charles Kaminski
P.O. Box 1568
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
33301
Phone : 954-588-2310