Search results

This purpose of this study is to outline an inclusive development strategy for crime prevention interventions. Crime prevention interventions are delivered to the target audience to convey an evidence-based message to dissuade would-be offenders from carrying out crimes. However, rarely is the target audience involved when designing crime prevention interventions.

Using the Delphi method, this paper documents the design of an intervention aimed at improving young drivers’ compliance with road rules, incorporating feedback from both a panel of experts and the target audience of the intervention. While expert feedback guided the content and the context of the intervention, the feedback from the target audience was critical in ensuring that effective delivery and messaging of the crafted intervention would occur.

By drawing on expert and experiential insights, this exploratory method of intervention design provided a simple and effective way of ensuring the effective delivery of a crime prevention message.

Although this study focussed on a road safety intervention, the crime prevention applications of this method are broad.

This paper outlines a collaborative methodology that utilises expert and experiential knowledge towards the design and development of a crime prevention intervention, in this case, targeted at young drivers.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a collaboratively designed digital road safety intervention on a sample of young drivers and their self-reported traffic offending behaviours before and after the digital intervention.

This research involved surveying young drivers who shared their driving behaviours and views of police legitimacy through both in-person and online surveys. Analytical methods, including descriptives and hierarchical regressions, were used to examine the differences between participants who received the intervention versus those in a control group. Participants were also separated based on their involvement in a police-led road safety program before the intervention.

The findings of this study indicated that young drivers who received the intervention showed no improvements in their reported offending behaviour immediately following or three months following the delivery of the intervention. However, views of police legitimacy were a significant predictor and correlated with the reported offending behaviour among young drivers.

This study provides critical insights for policymakers and road safety educators by demonstrating the potential and limitations of digital interventions in altering young drivers’ behaviours. The findings suggest that while digital platforms can effectively communicate road safety messages, traditional face-to-face methods like the Life Awareness Workshop program may be more impactful in changing behaviours. Policymakers should consider integrating digital interventions with conventional programs to enhance their effectiveness. Additionally, fostering positive views of police legitimacy can be a crucial strategy in encouraging compliance with road rules among young drivers, thereby improving overall road safety.

This research indicates that while the co-design intervention proved promising to ensure that an evidence-based road safety message would be delivered to young drivers in an appropriate manner, in this case, that did not lead to any significant changes in driver behaviour. These results highlight the difficulty in reaching young drivers to affect a behaviour change digitally and indicate that further research is required.

This paper aims to explore the link between dangerous driving and other criminal behaviour.

Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) five-step process for scoping reviews to identify, summarise and classify identified literature was used. Within the 30-year timeframe (1990–2019), 12 studies met the inclusion criteria.

This review indicates that individuals who commit certain driving offences are more likely to also have a general criminal history. In particular, driving under the influence, driving unlicensed and high-range speeding offences were associated with other forms of criminal behaviour. Seven of the studies mentioned common criminological theories; however, they were not integrated well in the analysis. No studies used explanatory psychosocial theories that investigate social and contextual factors.

Future research in this area would benefit from exploring individual and social influences that contribute to criminal behaviour in both contexts.

There is the potential to develop an information-led policing approach to improve safety on the roads and reduce wider offending behaviour. However, it is critical that road policing officers continue to focus on ensuring the road system is as safe as possible for users.

Criminal behaviour on the roads is often seen as a separate from other types of offending. This paper explores if, and how, these two types of offending are linked.

Road policing is a key method used to improve driver compliance with road laws. However, the authors have a very limited understanding of the perceptions of young drivers regarding police enforcement of road laws. The paper aims to address this gap.

Within this study 238 young drivers from Queensland, Australia, aged 17-24 years (M=18, SD=1.54), with a provisional (intermediate) driver’s licence completed an online survey regarding their perceptions of police enforcement and their driver thrill-seeking tendencies. This study considered whether these factors influenced self-reported transient (e.g. traveling speed) and fixed (e.g. blood alcohol concentration) road violations by the young drivers.

The results indicate that being detected by police for a traffic offence, and the frequency with which they display P-plates on their vehicle to indicate their licence status, are associated with both self-reported transient and fixed rule violations. Licence type, police avoidance behaviors and driver thrill seeking affected transient rule violations only, while perceptions of police enforcement affected fixed rule violations only.

This study suggests that police enforcement of young driver violations of traffic laws may not be as effective as expected and that the authors need to improve the way in which police enforce road laws for young novice drivers.

This paper identifies that perceptions of police enforcement by young drivers does not influence all types of road offences.

Purpose – Driver education and licensing are two mechanisms used to reduce crash rates. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of these countermeasures and consider how simulators can be used to augment more traditional approaches.

Approach – A literature review was undertaken evaluating key concepts in driver licensing including graduated driver licensing (GDL), the role of parents in licensing, compliance and enforcement, driver testing and how the driver licensing system impacts on levels of unlicensed driving. Literature regarding driver education for individuals who have and not yet obtained a licence was also reviewed.

Findings – GDL is a successful countermeasure for reducing the crash rates of young novice drivers as it limits their exposure to higher risk situations. The support for driver education initiatives is mixed. As there are big differences between education programs, there is a need to consider each program on its own merits. Driving simulators provide a safe environment for novices to gain experience. In particular, they may be bifacial for development of hazard perception and visual scanning skills.

Practical Implications – GDL systems should be introduced where appropriate. Existing systems should be strengthened where possible by including additional, best-practice and restrictions. When considering driver education as a countermeasure, the type of program is very important. Education programs that have been shown to increase crashes should not be introduced. Further research and development are necessary to ensure that driver education and licensing adequately equip novice drivers with the skills necessary to drive in the 21st century.