The DeKalb Study

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The DeKalb Study
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The DeKalb Study

• Have you heard the whole story?

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Topics of Discussion

• What have you heard?
• Some background
• Why is the study considered a negative for driver
  education?
• Were there any positives from the DeKalb study?
• What happened to driver education in DeKalb
  county?

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What Have You Heard?
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You May Recall

• Federal study NHTSA
• DeKalb County, Georgia
• 1977 1981 1986
• SPC, PDL, CONTROL
• 72 18 None

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Why the Negative Results?

• Hypothesis 10
• Curriculum Tedious evasives
• Assignments

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Were There Any Positives?
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Crashes (Preliminary)

• SPC -Fewer crashes than control the first six
  months
• ( Nearly significant for the second six
  months)
• PDL Fewer crashes than control the first six
  months
• (Nearly significant for the second six
  months)

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Crashes Six Year Data

• PDL Fewer number of crashes. 6
• PDL Fewer number of students who had a crash. 5

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Violations

• (PRELIMINARY)
• SPC -Fewer violations than the PDL for two years.
• PDL Fewer violations than Control for two years.
• This includes DUI.

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Violations Six Year Data

• PDL Fewer convictions 10
• SPC Fewer convictions 9

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Performance Scores

• Knowledge Test
• SPC Best
• PDL Better
• Control Lowest

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Performance Scores

• On Road Performance Test
• (ORPT)
• SPC Best
• PDL Better
• Control Lowest

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Seat Belt Use

• Driver Education students were more likely to
  wear seat belts.

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Study Recommendations
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• 1. Implement the Graduated Drivers License.
• 2. Modify the SPC to a beefed up objective
  based PDL program.
• 3.Further develop an instructional unit on
  alcohol, drugs and driving.
• 4. Specify a socioeconomic goal.
• 5. Continue to analyze driver records.

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1. Implement a GDL

• Data shows Driver Education and a GDL to be a
  perfect combination

Yet many GDL laws omit Driver Education
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2. Modify the SPC

• DONE
• Segment I AND Segment II

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3. Alcohol, Drugs and Driving Unit

• State mandated four hour course required to
  obtain a drivers license.

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4. Specify a Socioeconomic Goal

• Driver Education supports Quality Basic Education
  (QBE)
• Physical health
• Community activities
• Conservation of public resources
• Effective work
• Responsible citizenship

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4. Socioeconomic Goals Cont.

• Life skill
• Safest most effective way to learn
• Students apply reading, writing, math, science,
  and critical thinking skills in a practical
  manner.
• It is a vocational course in itself.
• Increased access to jobs, education and medical
  needs.

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4. Socioeconomic Goals Cont.

• Encourages decision-making and reasoning skills
  (critical thinking)
• Provides information and skills to reduce crashes
  and violations
• (especially in the early months
  when students are most vulnerable)
• Students may qualify for insurance premium
  reductions

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What This Means

• Driver Education needs to accentuate the
  positive.
• Driver Education must promote itself properly.
• Embrace the help of others.
• (Good Housekeeping Magazine?)

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Sources

• Evaluation of Safe Performance Secondary School
  Driver Education Curriculum Demonstration
  Project, Final Report, June 1983
• Follow-Up Evaluation Safe Performance Curriculum
  Driver Education Project
• Presented at 1987 ADTSEA Conference Spokane,
  WA.

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Thank You. Keep up the Good Work!