SELECTION TESTS-DUBIOUS AID IN DRIVER LICENSING
TESTS DEVELOPED FOR SELECTION OR SCREENING OF DRIVERS ARE LIKELY TO BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR PUBLIC LICENSING. WHEREAS SELECTION TESTS SEEK TO ELIMINATE ALL BUT THE BEST IN A GIVEN APPLICANT POOL /A PROBLEM OF INTEREST TO THE ARMY, TO COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION CONCERNS, ETC./, LICENSING PROCEDURES CONCENTRATE ON ELIMINATING ONLY THE MORE OBVIOUS MISFITS. TESTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR ARMY DRIVER SELECTION INCLUDE ATTITUDINAL, PERSONALITY AND/OR ADJUSTMENT MEASURES DEVELOPED THROUGH THOROUGH EMPIRICAL TRYOUT, AS WELL AS TESTS OF INFORMATION. PSYCHOPHYSICAL MEASURES DID NOT PROVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR SELECTION PURPOSES. IF LICENSE BUREAU OFFICIALS MADE A DECISION TO DENY LICENSES TO APPLICANTS SCORING LOW ON A TYPICAL DRIVER SELECTION BATTERY VALIDATED AGAINST AN ACCIDENT CRITERION, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SET THE CUTTING SCORE ON THE BATTERY AT A POINT WHERE APPROXIMATELY 23 MILLION DRIVERS OF 100 MILLION, CURRENTLY ESTIMATED TO BE LICENSED IN THE UNITED STATES, WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. THIS WOULD ACHIEVE A REDUCTION OF FACILITIES AND OTHER ACCIDENTS FROM 15 TO 10 MILLION PER YEAR. IF OFFICIALS ARBITRARILY REMOVED 10 MILLION DRIVERS FROM THE ROAD ON THE BASIS OF SUCH A SELECTION BATTERY, ONLY 2 MILLION COULD BE EXPECTED TO BE DRIVERS LIKELY TO HAVE ACCIDENTS. LIMITING LICENSING IN TERMS OF PERSONAL LIMITATIONS OF THE DRIVER IS REGARDED AS A LEGITIMATE BASIC APPROACH TO REDUCING ACCIDENTS. BUT A BROADER APPROACH IS NEEDED BECAUSE ACCIDENTS OCCUR AS A RESULT OF MULTIPLE, COMPLEX CAUSES OR BECAUSE THEY DO NOT OCCUR WITH THE REGULARITY AND CONSISTENCY NEEDED FOR RESEARCH. /AN ACCIDENT CRITERION COULD NOT BE USED IN ARMY RESEARCH FOR THE LATTER REASON. A CRITERION BASED ON THE OBSERVATIONS AND JUDGMENTS OF DRIVERS, SUPERVISORS, AND ASSOCIATE DRIVERS WAS USED INSTEAD./ REAL-LIFE SIMULATION FACILITIES ARE UNDOUBTEDLY NEEDED FOR THE STUDY OF DRIVER ACCIDENTS AS A MEANS OF DERIVING PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING TRAFFIC, VEHICLES AND ROADS AND AS A MEANS OF IDENTIFYING DRIVER LIMITATIONS. /AUTHOR/
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Supplemental Notes:
- Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
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Authors:
- Uhlaner, J E
- Drucker, A J
- Publication Date: 1965
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: pp 41-53
- Monograph Title: Road-user characteristics
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Serial:
- Highway Research Record
- Issue Number: 84
- Publisher: Highway Research Board
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Driver licensing; Drivers; Driving tests; Reduction (Chemistry); Selection and appointment; Testing; Traffic crashes
- Uncontrolled Terms: Driver selection
- Old TRIS Terms: Reduction
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00222522
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Dec 12 1994 12:00AM