Traffic safety impacts of the Home Instruction/ Point Reduction Incentive (HI/PRI) program

Abstract The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) implemented and evaluated a pilot driver improvement program involving the withholding (“masking”) from public inspection of one conviction from the driving record of qualifying drivers. To qualify for masking, the driver had to complete and return a mailed, self-administered test and remain free of traffic convictions and accidents for a period of 6 months after selection into the program. This Home Instruction/Point Reduction Incentive (HI/PRI) countermeasure was developed in two distinct versions: the Speed HI/PRI was designed for multiple violators of the 55 Maximum Speed Law (MSL), and the Negligent Operator (Neg-Op) HI/PRI was designed for drivers classified as negligent operators based on their traffic conviction record. Both HI/PRI countermeasures covered the safety and energy-saving advantages of 55-MSL compliance; the Neg-Op HI/PRI included general traffic safety material as well. The multiple 55-MSL violators were assigned at random to either the Speed HI/PRI or a no-contact comparison group. The negligent operators were assigned at random to one of four conditions: the Neg-Op HI/PRI, the existing DMV group educational meeting, a modified group meeting incorporating 55-MSL issues, or a no-contact comparison group. The Speed HI/ PRI and Neg-Op HI/PRI were each estimated to be cost-beneficial on the basis of accidents prevented. In addition, the Neg-Op HI/PRI had a larger estimated effect on accidents and lower cost than the group meeting countermeasures, which were also cost-beneficial. The coverage of 55-MSL issues in the group meeting did not appear to influence its effect in reducing either accidents or convictions. All of the countermeasures appeared to reduce subsequent convictions.