THE MODEL LICENSE TESTING FACILITY

A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO DESIGN A FACILITY TO IMPROVE DRIVER LICENSING PROCEDURES. THE STUDY DEVELOPED A DETAILED PHILOSOPHY OF DRIVER LICENSING AND CULMINATED IN A SET OF SKETCHES FOR A ROADWAY SYSTEM WHICH COULD TEST ASPECTS OF THIS PHILOSOPHY AND DEVELOP IMPROVED TECHNIQUES. THE PURPOSE OF LICENSING IS SEEN TO BE THE INSURING OF QUALIFICATIONS OF THE DRIVERS TO MAKE THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY AND TO HELP PREVENT ACCIDENT INVOLVEMENT. THE MOST DIRECT METHOD FOR EVALUATING A DRIVER IS TO OBSERVE HIS PERFORMANCE IN AN ACTUAL TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT. A ROAD TEST IS WIDELY USED TO TEST NEW LICENSE APPLICANTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD. SIMULATION IS ONE OF THE PROMISING AREAS OF DRIVER TRAINING AND TESTING, BUT HAS NOT REACHED THE POINT WHERE IT CAN BE USED FOR TESTING LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE. THE MODEL LICENSE TESTING FACILITY PROPOSED HAS CENTRAL CONTROL TOWER, FROM WHICH EXAMINERS DIRECT AND SCORE DRIVERS THROUGH RESIDENTIAL AREA, MAJOR TRAFFIC INTERSECTION, STEEP HILL, MEANDERING RURAL ROADS, AND FREEWAY RAMPS. A MODEL LICENSE TESTING FACILITY IS NOW BEING PLANNED FOR CONSTRUCTION AT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY. THE DRIVER'S PERFORMANCE IS ASSESSED BY A SMALL COMPUTER IN THE OBSERVATION BUILDING. THE COMPUTER ASSIGNS A SCORE TO EACH DRIVER FOR EACH SEGMENT OF HIS PERFORMANCE. IN ADDITION TO THE ROAD TEST, THE MODEL LICENSE TESTING FACILITY WILL INCLUDE AUTOMATED DEVICES FOR COMPREHENSIVE VISION SCREENING. WHILE THE LICENSE TESTING FROM THE APPLICANT'S VIEWPOINT MAY BE IMPROVED, THE ULTIMATE INTENT IS TO IMPROVE DRIVER SAFETY. BY REQUIRING CONSISTENCY IN DRIVER BEHAVIOR, THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION IN THE UNCERTAINTIES OF COMPLEX DRIVING SITUATIONS. GREATER CONSISTENCY WILL REQUIRE GREATER PREPARATION ON THE PART OF THE LICENSE APPLICANT.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Res Rept, 2 PP, 1 FIG
• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania Transportation and Traffic Safety Center

  ,    
• Publication Date: 1970-4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Driver licensing; Driver performance; Driver training; Drivers; Driving simulators; Driving tests; Highway safety; Personnel performance; Road tests; Testing equipment; Vision
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver vision
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00220948
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 29 1970 12:00AM