Balancing safety on the road with risk from COVID-19: A content analysis of policy adaptations by Divisions of Motor Vehicles

Robyn Feiss; Amanda Hautmann; Nicole Asa; Cara Hamann; Corinne Peek-Asa; Jingzhen Yang

doi:10.1016/j.aap.2021.106400

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Balancing safety on the road with risk from COVID-19: A content analysis of policy adaptations by Divisions of Motor Vehicles

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Balancing safety on the road with risk from COVID-19: A content analysis of policy adaptations by Divisions of Motor Vehicles

Robyn Feiss, Amanda Hautmann, Nicole Asa, Cara Hamann, Corinne Peek-Asa and Jingzhen Yang

Accident analysis and prevention, Vol.162, pp.106400-106400

11/2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2021.106400

PMCID: PMC8440168

PMID: 34555593

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Abstract

•DMVs in all states adapted some of their policies to slow the spread of COVID-19.•DMVs in 31 states modified their road test policies and procedures during COVID-19.•Extensions for licensure renewal was the most common adaptation, adapted by 49 states.•Influence of COVID-19 adaptations on ease of obtaining licensure varied between states.•Number of COVID-19 policy adaptations was not associated with state-level restrictions. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered people’s daily lives, including driving. However, how state Divisions of Motor Vehicles (DMV) adapted their operation policies in response to COVID-19 remains unknown. This study analyzed adaptations to the content of state DMV operation policies during the COVID-19 pandemic across 50 US states and assessed the relationships between these policy adoptions and their state-level COVID-19 restriction orders. We merged data on policy adaptations due to COVID-19 obtained from DMV websites for all 50 states with data on state-level restrictions obtained from the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). We created a codebook and analyzed the DMV policy adaptations in the following three areas: (1) road testing, (2) licensure extension and renewals, and (3) facility reopening. Two trained coders independently reviewed and coded the adaptations of policy content related to precaution to spread of COVID-19 and ease of obtaining licensure. We calculated summary scores for policy adaptations and ease of licensure and compared these scores across three categories of state-level COVID-19 restrictions using ANOVA. DMVs in all 50 states adapted their policies to slow the spread of COVID-19. The ease of licensure summary scores increased in some states but decreased in others. Extensions for licensure renewals was the most common change. Adoption of COVID-19 precautions during the road test was the most common road test adaptation, while road test waivers were the most controversial. Requiring appointments, social distancing, and/or face coverings/personal protective equipment [PPE] were common adaptations during facility reopening. However, variations in level of policy adaptations and ease of licensure were not associated with the state’s COVID-19 restrictions. Our findings provide insight into policy adaptations made by state DMVs to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and may inform future policy adaptations in DMVs and other government agencies during public health emergencies.

Coronavirus

Licensure renewal

Reopening

Road safety

Road-test

State policy

Details

Title: Subtitle: Balancing safety on the road with risk from COVID-19: A content analysis of policy adaptations by Divisions of Motor Vehicles
Creators: Robyn Feiss - Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 575 Childrens Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States
Amanda Hautmann - Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 575 Childrens Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States
Nicole Asa - Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 575 Childrens Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States
Cara Hamann - Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
Corinne Peek-Asa - Injury Prevention Research Center, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
Jingzhen Yang - Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 575 Childrens Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Accident analysis and prevention, Vol.162, pp.106400-106400
DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2021.106400
PMID: 34555593
PMCID: PMC8440168
NLM abbreviation: Accid Anal Prev
ISSN: 0001-4575
eISSN: 1879-2057
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100009633, name: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, award: R01HD098176, R01HD100420; DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health; DOI: 10.13039/100000030, name: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, award: R49CE003074
Language: English
Date published: 11/2021
Academic Unit: Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Nursing; Center for Social Science Innovation; Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984214682902771

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