Suspended and revoked (S/R) drivers who continue to drive are at increased risk of being involved in crashes, driving under the influence, and other driving violations. The success of sanctions and countermeasures are influenced by the amount and type of access suspended and revoked drivers have to vehicles. This study was designed to obtain information about the vehicles S/R drivers drive and how they access them. California driver license and vehicle registration data representing nearly 140,000 drivers convicted of driving while suspended (DWS) were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative results were presented to a panel of traffic safety experts who evaluated the procedural and enforcement-related implications of the results and made the following recommendations: 1) Create a “hot list” to assist with apprehension of high-risk disqualified drivers, 2) Administratively confiscate the physical license of disqualified drivers caught driving, 3) Use existing technology to enhance access to driver license and vehicle registration data from the field, 4) Conduct more frequent license and registration checks during traffic stops, 5) Conduct a survey of DWS drivers apprehended driving vehicles that they do not own to obtain information about the relationship between the driver and the vehicle owner, 6) Convene a task force to develop recommendations to reduce S/R driver access to dismantled and junked vehicles, 7) Conduct a study to evaluate the independent crash risk associated with dismantled and junked vehicles, and 8) provide S/R drivers with assistance in anticipating their transportation needs during the period of disqualification. (Author/publisher)
Abstract