Troy E' Costales

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A Highway Safety Office Perspective of Driver
Education and Teen Driver TrainingApril 2008

• Troy E. Costales
• Oregon Governors Highway Safety Representative

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Background

• State Highway Safety Offices as a partner
• Available Resources
• Leave No Child Behind Really?
• Who is Taking Driver Training?

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Graduated Driver Licensing

• Is this an outgrowth of the lack of support for
  driver education?
• This may be the last breath of life for driver
  education, if we dont move now we may lose it
  forever.
• The GHSA supports graduated licensing,
  particularly for teens.

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• We must change the culture of what it is to be a
  teen driver in this nation.

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Reducing Teen Crashes

• Partners in Prevention

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Partners in Prevention

• What is the concern about teen drivers?
• Who should be involved to make a difference?
• Are there any guarantees that anything will work?

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Some samples and ideas
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Menu selections to consider

• License restrictions
• Parental involvement
• Curfew
• Media push
• Different marketing strategies and messages
• Victim conversations
• Three year cycles

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An Oregon Approach

• Second phase of a graduated driver license
• data driven restriction proposals
• passenger restrictions are the key
• nighttime curfew eliminates the most severe
  crashes
• direct tie to driver education
• Recent ban on cell phone use
• Driver education
• new focus, attention, standards, and attention

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Driver Education in Oregon

• An Action Plan for Change
• Approved by the Oregon Transportation Safety
  Committee on September 13, 1999

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Summary of Recommendations

• Task Forces
• Town Hall Meetings
• Administrative Rules
• Legislative Emergency Board
• Other Impacting Legislation

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Task Forces

• Overall goal
• Membership
• Subject areas to cover
• Curriculum
• Instructor
• Operations
• Public Outreach

gt Guidelines gt Scope gt Timeline gt Respect gt
Resources
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Town Hall Meetings

• Format
• Agenda
• Locations
• Invitations
• Speakers
• Media

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Administrative Rules

• Curricula Standards
• Reimbursement Requirements
• Instructor Standards
• Operational Guidelines
• Stair-Step Approach

• October 1999
• Meetings begin
• February 2000
• Temporary review
• March 2000
• Adoption of initial rules
• June 2000
• Final review
• September 2000
• Adoption of final rules

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Legislative Emergency Board

• Policy approval
• Position resource
• Operational funding
• Reimbursement funding
• Formal update and re-assurance of implementation

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Impacting Legislation

• Proof of School Attendance
• Additional Funds for Driver Education
• Driver License Cycle Expanded
• Graduated Driver License
• Ban on cell phone use

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Values

• Customer Satisfaction
• Listening to Others
• Participative Decision Making
• Valuing Individuals
• Diversity
• Excellence
• Public Trust

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An Action Plan for Change

• We are changing the culture of what it is to be
  a teen driver in the State of Oregon.
• You will continue to get what you are getting,
  if all you do is what has been done before.

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Teenage Drivers - 16

• In 1998, 1,196 16 year old drivers were involved
  in a fatal or injury crash.
• In 2000, only 898 16 year old drivers were
  involved in a fatal or injury crash (a 24.9
  reduction).
• In 2001 the reductions continued. Only 808 16
  year old drivers were involved in a fatal or
  injury crash.
• In 2002 the reductions continued. Only 743 16
  year old drivers were involved in a fatal or
  injury crash.
• In 2003, the reductions continued. Only 751 16
  year old drivers were involved in a fatal or
  injury crash.
• In 2004, the reductions continued. Only 689 16
  year old drivers were involved in a fatal or
  injury crash (a 42.4 reduction since 1998).
• In 2005, the reductions were confirmed. Only 656
  16 year old drivers were involved in a fatal or
  injury crash (a 45.2 reduction since 1998).

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Teenage Drivers - 17

• In 1998, 1,497 17 year old drivers were involved
  in a fatal or injury crash.
• In 2000, only 1,201 17 year old drivers were
  involved in a fatal or injury crash (a 19.8
  reduction).
• In 2001 the reductions continued. Only 1,179 17
  year old drivers were involved in a fatal or
  injury crash.
• In 2002 the reductions continued. Only 1,204 17
  year old drivers were involved in a fatal or
  injury crash.
• In 2003, the reductions continued. Only 1,075 17
  year old drivers were involved in a fatal or
  injury crash.
• In 2004, the reductions continued. Only 960 17
  year old drivers were involved in a fatal or
  injury crash (a 35.9 reduction since 1998).
• In 2005, the reductions continued at a slightly
  lower rate. Only 999 17 year old drivers were
  involved in a fatal or injury crash (a 33.3
  reduction since 1998).

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Teenage Drivers 18 and 19

• In 1998, 2,905 18 and 19 year old drivers were
  involved in a fatal or injury crash.
• In 2000, only 2,469 18 and 19 year old drivers
  were involved in a fatal or injury crash (a 15
  reduction).
• In 2001 the reductions continued. Only 2,376 18
  and 19 year old drivers were involved in a fatal
  or injury crash.
• In 2002 the reductions continued. Only 2,441 18
  and 19 year old drivers were involved in a fatal
  or injury crash.
• In 2003, the reductions continued. Only 2,439 18
  and 19 year old drivers were involved in a fatal
  or injury crash .
• In 2004, the reductions continued. Only 2,270 18
  and 19 year old drivers were involved in a fatal
  or injury crash (a 21.9 reduction since 1998).
• In 2005, the reductions continued at a lower
  rate. Only 2,466 18 and 19 year old drivers were
  involved in a fatal or injury crash (a 15.1
  reduction since 1998).

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Oregon GDL- NHTSA Study

• The crash rate for the teens taking formal DE was
  11-21 lower than those taking the 100 hour
  parent program
• The traffic conviction rate for teens taking
  formal DE was 39-57 lower than those taking the
  parent program
• The driver license suspension rate for teens
  taking DE was 51-53 lower than the parent program

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Our job is to change the culture of what it
means to be a teen driver.
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Organization

• Organization of the Agency
• Where does the Highway Safety Office fit in the
  larger agency?
• Finances of the Agency
• What resources are in the overall agency?
• Operation and Organization
• Who is in the Highway Safety Office?

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Agency Organization
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The Money
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The Office
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Importance of Best Practices

• Funding or access to additional grants
• Political coverage
• Mark your progress within the larger context (or
  fall back)
• Congressional reports and opportunities
• Podium time at programs and workshops
• More people to help and share in the success

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Future Concerns

• Senior staff turnover
• Following the keepers of the keys (finance,
  positions, assignments, data, policies,
  calendars, team meeting agendas, etc.)
• Secretary or Director priorities

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Driver Education of the Future

• Reach the new driver up front, avoid the
  re-training needed when the driver is 30, 40, or
  50.
• Who may be the de-facto trainer?
• Integrated with the GDL is a must.
• Someone at the national level must be charged
  with the lead responsibility.

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Recommendations

• We cannot focus on driver training as a
  stand-alone program.
• NHTSA must take on some of the lead
  responsibility.
• The alternative is not acceptable.
• Transportation is now the key to the American
  Dream.

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A Highway Safety Office Perspective of Driver
Education and Teen Driver TrainingApril 2008

• Troy E. Costales
• Oregon Governors Highway Safety Representative