Despite conflicting findings, traffic safety research has produced consensus on one central issue: as a group, traffic offenders present a much greater threat to their own and others’ safety than do drivers whose records are clean.
In recent years, there has been growing concern within the driver licensing community that existing driver improvement programs are not adequate to deal with the expected increase of electronically transmitted driver information across jurisdictions.
AAMVA is striving to develop uniform guidelines across the entire spectrum of driver licensing activities; from identification, to testing, to screening and evaluation, to driver improvement, to license withdrawal.
The committee established a Working Group in 1993 to address the driver improvement issue and to develop a model program. Establishing a model program with minimum standards helps create a "level playing field" for all member jurisdictions and the motoring public. The flexibility built into the program makes it practical for jurisdictions to implement.
AAMVA’s model driver improvement program objectives are to:
- promote minimum standards which creates a level playing field and supports the aim of the Driver Licensing & Control Committee to achieve uniform licensing standards,
- be flexible and recognize different resourcing levels and different approaches in the various jurisdictions, and
- provide a basis for discussion to share expertise and experiences in promoting road safety.