Vehicle Impoundment Program Evaluation

Explanatory Statement

Before completing the questionnaire please read this brief overview of this research project.

Aims of the Research Project

The Monash University Accident Research Centre is conducting a research project evaluating the effectiveness of the Victorian Vehicle Impoundment Legislation in reducing the occurrence of hoon driving behaviour on behalf of the Victoria Police. This project will help in assessing the effectiveness of the Vehicle Impoundment Legislation in Victoria.

Who Will Participate in the Research?

People who been convicted under the Victorian Vehicle Impoundment Legislation and are over 18 years of age are asked to volunteer to participate in this project. The Victoria Police have mailed out this information to you from details contained in their Vehicle Impoundment database. The Monash University staff have not had any access to your personal details eg. name or address. Also if you wish to participate in this valuable study you need to contact the Monash staff directly (see contact details below) and the Victoria Police will not have access to any details of people who chose to or not to participate. This method of contacting participants is designed to protect your confidentiality and has been approved by both the Monash University and Victoria Police Ethics Committees (see contact details below)

What Does Participating in This Project Involve?

There are two options if you wish to participate in this project

Firstly, you can answer the enclosed questionnaire and return it in the pre-paid return mail envelope provided.

Alternatively, you can participate in one of several small discussion groups with others who have also been convicted under the Victorian Vehicle Impoundment Legislation. The group will be lead by an experienced and trained researcher. The discussion will include issues such as why your vehicle was impounded, what impact did this have on you and your attitudes about various issues related to vehicle impoundment. You will also be asked to complete a short confidential questionnaire. Do not complete or return the enclosed questionnaire if you volunteer to participate in a focus groups discussion.

The group discussion will take approximately one and a half hours. If you partake in the focus group discussions you will be offered $49.99 to compensate you for your time and any expenses involved in travelling to the session.

Confidentiality

As participation in a discussion group is a public event involving several members, the confidentiality of any information provided during the discussion group to the other group members cannot be guaranteed. To ensure the accurate recording of information, the discussion group will be audio-taped, only the researchers will have access to this information and the tapes will be erased at the end of the project. No identifying information will be reported to the Victoria Police. No findings that could identify any individual participant will be published. At the completion of the project a report will be provided for the Victoria Police and also published, it will report on themes and common responses from the focus groups. No names or identifying information will be put into any reports.

Inconvenience/discomfort

The focus groups will be conducted in a friendly, respectful manner so no foreseeable level of discomfort is predicted. However as the discussions involve talking about illegal driving behaviour there is a possibility of some discomfort. If you do experience upset or discomfort the contact details of professional confidential counselling are provided below.

Storage of Data

All data from this research project will be de-identified and kept at the Monash University Accident Research Centre in a locked filing cabinet for five years under the University regulations. Only the project researchers will have access to this data. A report of the study may be submitted for publication, but individual participants will not be identifiable in such a report.

Can I Withdraw from the Project?

Being in this study is voluntary, you are under no obligation to consent to participation and you may avoid answering questions which are felt to be too personal or intrusive. However, if you wish your data to be withdrawn this must be requested prior to the completion of the focus group session or submitting the questionnaire.

Queries and Results

If you have any queries, please contact Ms. Belinda Clark on 9905 4022. If you would like to be informed of the aggregate research findings, please contact Ms. Belinda Clark on the above number after October 2009 when the results will be available.

What If I Have a Complaint?

This project will be carried out according to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) produced by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. This statement has been developed to protect the interests of people who agree to participate in human research studies.

The ethical aspects of this research project have been approved by Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee, and Victoria Police Human Research Ethics Committee.

If you have any complaints about any aspect of the project, the way it is being conducted or any questions about your rights as a research participant, then you may contact one of the following:

Thank you.
Ms. Belinda Clark
Research Fellow

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