The objective of this report was to assess the effectiveness, if any, of remedial driver education in reducing subsequent traffic crashes and violations in a sample of Texas drivers who took a driver safety course in 2001 (the DSC group), as compared to a control group of drivers who had a violation but did not take a course (the CON group). The 194,314 drivers examined were a convenience sample of 18-20-year-old Texans obtained for another study. For every age group, and for the combined group of 18-, 19-, 20-year-old Texas drivers, the DSC group had statistically significantly (p =.05) better post-qualifying-event driving records than did the CON group. Total events were significantly better. Crashes were significantly better. Convictions were significantly better. The findings are generally inconsistent with the research literature, so possible explanations, such as demographic differences between the two groups, were explored, to no avail. (Author/publisher)
Abstract