Covering not just crashes and arrests, Dunlap’s research into the effect of Utah’s first-in-the-nation .05 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC) legal limit also evaluated the effect on liquor sales and tourism. Providing clear before and after comparisons, the report continues to be utilized by legislators and national news outlets.
Studying pedestrian crash fatality data from five select states, Dunlap looked for the frequency of past DWI convictions in pedestrians killed with a high BAC. They then convened experts to explore interventions that could reduce fatalities.
New cars equipped with GPS-enabled navigation systems can be enabling for older drivers, but also daunting to learn. Dunlap took older drivers to unfamiliar areas and monitored them completing navigation tasks. The first phase studied navigation efficacy for older drivers as well as what aspects of its use were difficult. Then, they tested different methods to effectively train drivers on their navigation systems.
While almost all States regulate local agencies providing ambulance services, they often provide very little oversight of the licensing and training of ambulance drivers. With help from members of the National Association of State EMS Officials across the nation, Dunlap surveyed a large number of operators to understand what type of training they administered and whether it matched known efficacy.
As motor skills and cognition decline in older people, driving can become riskier. By electronically tracking the driving behavior of 64 study participants aged 64-80 and then testing their driving capabilities, Dunlap found that while many have altered their behavior to compensate for their abilities, others have not. Self-regulation mitigates, but does not eliminate, the potential safety risk posed by older adults driving in situations that overtax their driving skills.