Speed and Young Drivers: Developing Countermeasures to Target Excessive Speed Behaviours Amongst Young Drivers

Monash University Accident Research Centre – Report #159 - 1999

Authors: Harrison, W.A., Triggs, T.J. & Pronk, N.J.

Abstract

The purpose of this project was the provision of recommendations concerning the development of enforcement methods or procedures that will better target excessive speed amongst younger drivers. An analysis of crash data confirmed general predictions that young drivers, and young males in particular, are more likely to be involved in crashes defined as speed-related than are older drivers.

The results of a survey of younger drivers were ambiguous with respect to the likely effect of an enforcement program. It was clear that exposure to enforcement has an effect on the perceived risk of detection for speeding, but it was also clear that the perceived risk of detection was not related to other speed-related attitudes such as the driver’s comfort exceeding the speed limit or the effect of the speed limit on driving behaviour. This confirms that factors other than enforcement contribute to speeding behaviour, and that increased enforcement levels are unlikely, on their own, to impact on the actual behaviour of younger drivers.

This issue is discussed, and it is concluded that some characteristics of a successful enforcement program might include additional night-time enforcement activity; a focus on the personal risk of detection as opposed to a focus on the theoretical risk of detection; a reliance on uncertainty in the placement of enforcement activity; and the use of visible enforcement.

Executive Summary

The purpose of this project was the provision of recommendations concerning the development of enforcement methods or procedures that will better target excessive speed amongst younger drivers. Crash data and a survey of the attitudes of younger drivers were used as the basis for considering the development of targeted enforcement techniques.

The analysis of crash data confirmed general predictions that young drivers, and young males in particular, are more likely to be involved in crashes defined as speed-related than are older drivers. This underscores the potential benefits that may still result from the application of targeted countermeasures directed specifically towards younger (male) drivers engaged in excessively fast driving.

A number of factors suggested that it might be necessary to increase the amount of night-time speed enforcement substantially to have an impact on the driving behaviour of younger drivers. These included the lack of high-intensity speed enforcement programs at night, evidence that younger drivers are more likely to engage in night-time road use than are older drivers, and that road use patterns for younger drivers at night were related to motivations that are associated with a higher risk of crashing.

The pattern of speed-involvement in crashes also argues for an enforcement method and supporting public education which links enforcement activity to wet-weather driving and driving on curves, as both presented problems for younger drivers.

The attitude data were ambiguous with respect to the likely effect of an increased enforcement program. It is clear that exposure to enforcement has an effect on the perceived risk of detection for speeding, suggesting that an increase in the perceived level of enforcement should at least increase the perceived risk of detection for this offence. Further, it is well understood that high levels of enforcement activity in Victoria have been shown to be associated with reduced crashes. It is also clear, however, that the perceived risk of detection was unrelated to other speed-related attitudes such as the driver’s comfort exceeding the speed limit or the effect of the speed limit on driving behaviour. This suggests that increased enforcement levels may need to be considered in the broader context of other factors known to be associated with driving speed.

This issue is discussed, and it is concluded that some characteristics of a successful enforcement program might include:

A focus on the personal or actual risk of detection rather than the theoretical or risk of detection. This characteristic argues for a high-detection approach to the targeted enforcement program, perhaps using automated enforcement techniques.
A reliance on uncertainty in the placement of enforcement activity. The use of predictable enforcement locations and times would be expected to maximise the perceived risk of detection at those locations and times, but would do little to increase the ability of perceived risk of detection to control behaviour in a general sense. A randomised enforcement program might assist in the increasing the unpredictability of enforcement activity.
Some use of visible enforcement. Some level of highly visible enforcement would act to reinforce any public education programs that focus on the perceived risk of detection.

The cluster analysis provided additional data that may be useful in the development of any accompanying public education program to support an increase in targeted enforcement. There were some specific characteristics of the high-risk groups that could be used as the basis for characters in public-education material to improve its relevance. These characteristics included biases towards:

Males rather than females;
Car owners;
People who drive for social reasons at night (nightclubs and parties); and
People with offence histories.

Sponsoring Organisation: Baseline Research Program - Department of Justice (Victoria), Transport Accident Commission, Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Ltd, VicRoads.