The EU BestPoint project: getting the best out of a demerit point system

Various kinds of demerit point systems have been developed and implemented in European countries, aimed at tackling repeat offences in road transport by acting as a deterrent and providing sanctioning. The impact of a demerit point system on the number of crashes is often reported to be significant, but temporary. The objective of the EU BestPoint project was to establish a set of recommended practices that would result in a more effective and sustainable contribution of demerit point systems to road safety. A high actual chance of losing the licence and a high perceived chance of losing the licence are basic prerequisites for the effective operation of demerit point systems. For measures applied within the context of a demerit point system, a four-step-approach is recommended: warning letter, driver improvement course, licence withdrawal, rehabilitation course. Further recommendations concern issues like points and offences, e.g. which offences should lead to points, target groups, and the administration of demerit point systems. The final result of the EU BestPoint project is a handbook (van Schagen & Machata, 2012) which provides a concise overview of all recommended practices. The presentation/paper outlines how sustainable safety improvements can be achieved if national demerit point systems are implemented and maintained according to the recommended practices. In addition, potential further steps towards an EU-wide demerit point system (cross-border exchange on points and/or offences) are presented.

• Record URL:
  http://acrs.org.au/publications/conference-papers/database/
• Authors:
  • Klipp, S
  • Machata, K
  • van Schagen, I
• Conference:
  • Australasian Road Safety Research Policing Education Conference, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: Vision, action, results: Australasian Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference 2013, 28-30 August, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Driver improvement programs; Drivers; Highway safety; Point demerit systems
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• ATRI Terms: Driver behaviour; Driver improvement; Point demerit system; Road safety
• ITRD Terms: 9020: Evaluation (assessment)
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01504087
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 23 2014 9:51AM