Programs and problems in rehabilitation of the high risk driver.

Ames, W. Allen; Micas, Steven L · 1972 · ROSA P / Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC)

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Summary

This 1972 report by W. Allen Ames and Steven L. Micas, prepared for the Virginia Highway Research Council, examines alternatives to punitive sanctions for high-risk drivers. The authors argue that traditional penalties, such as fines and license revocation, assume violations result from deliberate risk-taking or carelessness, ignoring the complex psychomotor nature of driving. The study aims to evaluate rehabilitative approaches—including prediction of driving behavior, administrative warning letters, driver improvement interviews, reeducation, group discussions, behavior modification, and occupational licensing—to determine their efficacy in modifying driver behavior rather than merely punishing offenders. The paper reviews existing literature and empirical studies to assess the validity of various selection criteria and intervention methods. Regarding prediction, the authors find that age and driving-while-intoxicated convictions are the most reliable predictors of future accidents, while personality tests and prior driving records show low validity and high instability. The report critiques the methodology of many studies, noting a lack of control groups and the statistical phenomenon of regression to the mean, which often inflates perceived program success. Specific interventions are analyzed: administrative warning letters, particularly personalized "soft sell" approaches, show short-term reductions in violations; driver improvement interviews yield modest success dependent on counselor training but lack long-term impact; and driver reeducation and group discussion sessions produce equivocal results due to insufficient training and short durations. Behavior modification techniques are presented as a promising avenue, utilizing reinforcement strategies to address specific aberrant behaviors. The findings indicate that human behavior is resistant to long-term modification, and most rehabilitative programs show only slight or temporary improvements. The authors conclude that current selection criteria for identifying high-risk drivers are inefficient, leading to high rates of false positives and negatives. They emphasize that without a quantified description of the driving task and valid predictors, licensing agencies cannot effectively screen unfit drivers. The report suggests that future licensing should focus on diagnosing individual difficulties and prescribing remedial training. Ultimately, the authors caution against boundless enthusiasm for rehabilitative programs, advocating for rigorous, objective evaluation with control groups to ensure fiscal responsibility and genuine effectiveness in reducing highway crashes.

Key finding

Administrative warning letters can produce a significant short-term reduction in traffic violations, whereas personality tests and prior driving records lack the validity required to reliably predict future accident involvement.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• driver education effectiveness
• licensing policy
• older driver retraining
• novice drivers
• human error taxonomy
• sex gender

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation
• Theoretical Contribution: computational model, theory or model