THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUNISHMENT POLICIES FOR REDUCING TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

The present research is an attempt to add a new dimension to the problem of traffic offences and road accidents, by examining the effect of deterrent systems on traffic offences. This is a pilot study summing up the data already collected by the various bodies dealing with this problem. The findings relate to a random sample of 1,638 drivers whose first offence was registered during and after 1966. From this date, and up to the end of 1971, 4,063 offences were registered for these drivers. About 2/3 committed less than 6 offences and 1/3 were recidivists. 48 drivers committed more than 30 offences. With the passing of time, the rate of lesser offences increases and that of serious offences decreases. Offending drivers are made up of two groups. Recidivist drivers whose lack of basic driving capability is due to personality factors; normal drivers whose commission of traffic offences is apparently caused by temporary lack of driving ability due to unclear situations, or to a conglomeration of chance causes on the roads. While most punishments for traffic offences are relatively light, the severity of punishment is correlated with the gravity of the offence and with the driver's history of traffic offences. Severity of punishment is effective only in increasing the period of time between the punished offence and the following one. Severe punishment was found to be positively correlated with recidivism and, drivers who received light punishment for the first offence did not commit additional offences. As soon as the driver has committed two offences, it is possible to predict the number of expected future offences, according to the period of time between the first and second offence. Once personality factors causing lack of basic driving ability have been designated, it will be possible to create a selective system of punishment. The system would test driving ability and cancel licences of drivers who failed to meet requirements of the test.

• Corporate Authors:

  Tel-Aviv University, Israel

  Institute of Criminology and Criminal Law
  Tel-Aviv,   Israel 
• Authors:
  • Shoham, S
  • Ben-David, S
  • Geva, N
  • Segal, E
• Publication Date: 1972-3

Media Info

• Features: Tables;
• Pagination: 18 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Driver licenses; Driver performance; Driver records; Drivers; Personnel performance; Recidivism; Safety; Standards; Traffic crashes; Traffic violators
• Uncontrolled Terms: Deterrents
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00127417
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Report/Paper Numbers: Pilot Stud
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 29 1976 12:00AM