Victoria’s Motorcycle Licensing Program Essay Example for Free

Victorias Motorcycle Licensing Program EssayWithin the past year, in that respect have been 332 fatalities in Victoria fourteen share of this snatch is composed of motorcyclists, of which only seven percent carry a motorcycle drivers authorize, according to the Transport Accident Commissions intimately recent annual passageway toll (2008). The same source lists the following as the most usual causes of motorcycle crash accidents drunk effort, driver fatigue, and speeding which are violations to the fairly basic road safety regulations that drivers are expected to know before being given a drivers license. However, in this case, it appears that there is a need to re-assess Victorias current licensing die hard to answer the hesitancy Is the current suffice for obtaining a motorcycle drivers license in Victoria strong in promoting road safety? This proposal onlyow for be presented according to an Evaluation Plan guidebook (Educational Psychology and Instructional Tec hnology, n. d.) which lists the following elements indispensable in a successful computer computer programme paygrade a background of the program a specification of the valuations finding an outline of the limitations, ethical considerations, and decisions which the paygrade would affect a list of military rank doubtfulnesss expanding on the research question and lastly a rationale of the methodology and sampling techniques that will be apply. Background In 1938, the rising road toll in Victoria spurred the state to physical body a separate entity which would goern road safety management it was educate back because of WWII but was picked up afterwards.This eventu anyy led to the formation of VicRoads in 1989. At present, VicRoads is in iron boot of Victorias arterial road network, implement road safety strategies and programs and provide vehicle adaption and providing the state with a driver licensing armed service (VicRoads, 2008). According to their website, the fo llowing requirements need to be fulfilled in order to qualify for a motorcycle license 1. must be at least 18 years gray 2. has a current learners permit for at least 3 months 3. has passed the eyesight render, motorcycle license skills assessment, and hazard perception testVicRoads currently employs 2700 people over square uping these functions. Purpose For the purpose of assessing the efficiency of Victorias current motorcycle licensing program a process-based evaluation geared to fully understanding how it program works (McNamaran, n. d. ), is the most logical choice. According to Rossi (1999) Program process evaluation is a form of evaluation designed to describe how a program is operating and assess how well it performs its intended functions. It builds on program process theory which identifies the critical components, functions, and relationships assumed necessary for the program to be effective (p.89). Michael Quinn Pattons Utilization Focused Evaluation Checklist (2002) would also be used as a guideline for program assessment, justice assessment, and identification of users which would also determine answering sampling. The aim for this evaluation is to address the need for upward(a) the licensing program as a tool for eliminating road risks caused by preventable human errors like crusade under the influence coupled with or resulting in speeding and lack of physical control over vehicles. By delving into the process of licensing, program strengths and weaknesses may be specified.Limitations It is recognized that there are other factors change to the dangers associated with motorcycle movement. Assessing the licensing program merely gives us a place to start since the responsibility for determining who is go bad to be behind the wheel on Victorian roads f every last(predicate)s on license evaluators and service providers like VicRoads. It would also be difficult to achieve a completely objective assessment of the program since the methods suggested in the gathering of information will primarily be from observation and survey or interrogate questions which are largely subject to interpretation.Gathering a assay pool consisting of license test takers, evaluators, and commissioned drivers would also be a challenge given the area of Victoria, the number of licensing centers, and the mobility of test takers. It will be of great importance to preserve an objective and unbiased perspective while conducting the evaluation to ensure the great reliability and soundity possible. A method for entropy gathering would also be designed to lay off other evaluators who wish to test the resulting data to replicate the exact methodology used. EthicsAll participants in the evaluation would be promptly informed of the purposes of the evaluation. They would also have the selection for anonymity if they wish to opt for such. Personal information would be kept under strict confidentiality. If a respondent wishes to discontinue or terminate participation at any time during the process evaluation, they have every right to do so as well. Details of the methods, expected results, and projected date of completion would be provided to all respondents. before any interview, survey, or observation takes place, a hold form would be reviewed and signed by the respondent stolon.Permission for observation and data gathering would also be secured from VicRoads. Process evaluators would be instructed to keep all information VicRoads wishes to keep private confidential and would not be released to the public without written permission and consent from VicRoads. Decisions That Might Be Affected by This Evaluations Results Revisions to the current processes might result if the evaluation findings hitch to inefficiencies to the current processes and procedures or if an apparent dissatisfaction with the program is discovered.Both favorable and unfavorable outcomes are expected. For example, stricter implementations for lim iting drivers with debilitating medical conditions might be taken by the community as a inconsistency against disabled residents but educating the community against its possible dangers will most probably be taken reasonably. Explaining that an old man with poor eyesight poses a risk to pedestrians and other motorists when given license to drive on the road should be fairly easy to comprehend.It will also be a good locale for researchers and product developers to look into redesigning vehicles which more are forgiving to drivers would certain medical conditions and would enable them to continue driving without risking themselves or the community. Perhaps more frequent license renewal or application for ex-drink drivers and speeders who previously already had their license suspended or revoked should reduce the states problems with drink driving and speeding by making it particularly tedious or expensive to regain their right to driving on the road.This should of course be in colla boration with the states penalties for violators who drive without licenses. Evaluation Questions To give more definition to our research question about the effectiveness and efficiency of Victorias motorcycle licensing program, more specific questions have been listed below. The process evaluation aims to answer the following questions 1. Since the implementation of Victorias motorcycle licensing program, has the number of the states motorcycle fatalities been let down? 2.Do the tests and requirements for getting a motorcycle drivers license prepare prospective drivers for Victorian roads by educating them of the states road regulations and road safety rules? 3. Are the current tests exuberant in screening a drivers road competency? 4. The current tests are in general skills assessment, shouldnt there be a test designed to predict a drivers emotional and intellectual stability that would screen out would-be drink drivers and speeders? How would license test takers react? 5. Are the tests objective, reliable, valid, and consistent?How does the current process prevent bias from affecting results? Are the same procedures followed for all centers and applied for each individual? 6. Do license test takers view the program as necessary? Do they approve of the process or are there improvements they would like to see made? methodological analysis Given the nature of the evaluation, the following methods will be used in the collection and gathering of data acquiring statistical figures, implementing surveys and questionnaires, interviews, and first-hand observation.Acquiring statistical data about the number of motorcycle fatalities since 1989 when the licensing program was first implemented would be interpreted to determine if the program has been effective in lowering the states road toll. It would also determine what percentage of said fatalities is attributable to lack of education or human error. Surveys and questionnaires would be used for gathering personal information from license test takers especially on their opinions of the programs relevance and effectiveness.It would also be used to ask for suggestions for improvement from the programs end users. Interviews with the license evaluator in each of VicRoads licensing facilities would be done to acquire more insight to the genuine process from the clients point of view. It also aims to get the license evaluators personal experiences and opinions regarding the licensing process. Lastly, on-site observations would be implemented to see the program in action first-hand. It will be used to evaluate the programs reliability, validity, consistency, and objectivity.It will determine if there are differences in the practice between centers which would greatly affect a license test takers results. It would also try to measure effectiveness and see if the process is implemented as intended. try Choosing respondents would be done randomly for the test takers and licenced drivers. For licen se evaluators, however, since their number is relatively smaller than that of the license takers and drivers, the aim is to correspond with each evaluator in all of the licensing centers or if this is not possible, to interview with as many evaluators as permitted by the resources.Letters will be sent out to randomly selected licensed drivers with survey questionnaires attached. Instructions for sending responses back would also be detailed in the letter. For survey questions where the respondents answers are vague or unspecified, a call would be made for clarification. The aim for the sample population of license test takers should at least be thirty percent of the total number of test takers in the same time it takes to complete an application for a license up to the actual claiming of a motorcycle drivers license.These respondents should be a healthy representation of each stand for of the process those who are about to apply for a license, those who are in the process of acquir ing a license, and those who are there claiming their actual license. Survey Questions for Both License Test Takers and Licensed Drivers Not all questions need to be answered. Respondents would be asked to answer only questions which apply to them. 1. How do you rate the requirements needed for licensing? Do you think they are necessary and reasonable? 2.With the preparation youve been given before, after, and during the test, would you say you are confident with your driving competency? 3. Were you properly educated of the states road regulations and safety rules? 4. How would you react if the state required you to undergo psychological testing to measure your emotional and intellectual stability before granting you a motorcycle license? 5. Do you believe the test is fair and unbiased? If not, what led you to say so? 6. Is the licensing program contributing to the decrease in the number of crash fatalities?What would you suggest for improvements? Interview Questions for License Ev aluators 1. How would you rate the programs effectiveness? Is there anything you wish to improve? 2. How do you make sure that your basis for approve or denying an individual his motorcycle drivers license is free from bias and is reliable and valid? Follow-up questions depending on the respondents answers would also be used to gain depth in the answer. Observation Guidelines 1. equal the processes from center to center. Enumerate the steps and determine if there are delineations from the prescribed process.2. Compare the implementation of tests for each individual test taker. Is everyone undergoing identical tests and procedures? 3. Pay attention to the interaction between the test taker and the evaluator. Does their relationship affect the license test result? Timeline The projected completion date for this process evaluation is six months, enough to cover all centers and complete the data gathering. Within the said time bound an analysis of data would be passed along with a pr escription for action. The timeline should go as follows Definition of evaluation image and design State permission and random sample pool Simultaneous interviews, surveys, and observations Analysis of data Prescription for a plan of actionReferencesDavidson, E. J. (2004. ) Evaluation methodology basics The nuts and bolts of sound evaluation. Sage. Retrieved on September 1, 2008 from the introduction Wide Web http//books. google. com/books? id=ePfuba9tDbECprintsec=frontcoverdq=evaluation+methodologysig=ACfU3U2xBnA9EO2s1nLt8by60FdZmv3y1gPPR7,M1 Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology. (n. d. ) Evaluation plan template. Retrieved on September 1, 2008 from the World Wide Web http//it.coe. uga. edu treeves/edit8350/EPT. html Mcnamara, C. (n. d. ). Basic guide to program evaluation. forgo Management Library. Retrieved on September 1, 2008 from the World Wide Web http//www. managementhelp. org/ evaluatn/fnl_eval. htmanchor1575679 Patton, M. Q. (2002). Utilization-focuse d evaluations checklist. Evaluation Checklist Project. Retrieved on September 1, 2008 from the World Wide Web http//www. wmich. edu/ evalctr/checklists/ufe. pdf Rossi, P. H. , H. E. Freeman, et al. (1999). Evaluation a systematic approach (6th ed. ). Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage Publications Chapter 6