THE READABILITY OF STATE DRIVERS' MANUALS

All 50 states require driver license applicants to demonstrate their readiness for the road by passing both a conceptual and an applied driving test. In large measure, these tests assess how well the applicant has learned and mastered key concepts outlined in the drivers' manual. Since the reading and studying of the state drivers' manual prior to the actual examination typically constitutes the only intensive exposure many individuals ever have to traffic safety and driving rules, it is imperative that the concepts be presented as effectively as possible. This article reports on recent research to determine the readability levels of state drivers' manuals currently in use. The findings help identify manuals whose level of reading difficulty exceed the literacy attainment of the general populace, indicating the need for further examination and possible revision.

• Record URL:
  https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015021808608?urlappend=%3Bseq=531
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/7938948
• Corporate Authors:

  Eno Transportation Foundation

  P.O. Box 2055, Saugatuck Station
  Westport, CT  United States  06880-0055
• Authors:
  • Henk, W A
  • Stahl, N A
  • King, J R
• Publication Date: 1984-10

Media Info

• Features: Tables;
• Pagination: p. 507-519
• Serial:
  • Transportation Quarterly
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Eno Transportation Foundation
  • ISSN: 0278-9434

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driver licensing; Driver training; Driving tests; Legibility; States; Traffic safety education
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver manuals; Readability
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00395713
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-038 017
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM