Self-reported deterrence effects of the Norwegian driver's licence penalty point system. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sagberg, Fridulv; Sundfør, Hanne B.
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 62(2019)
• Page Start: 294
• Page End: 304
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Penalty point system -- Deterrence -- Driver behaviour -- Driver attitudes -- Road safety; Automobile drivers -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Automobile driving -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 629.283019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2019.01.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8478

Abstract

Highlights: A survey on a penalty point system was carried out among Norwegian car drivers. Drivers reduce risky driving behaviour when approaching the limit for license withdrawal. Even drivers with no points report being deterred from committing traffic violations. Improved self-reported behaviour is related to positive attitudes toward the point system. Abstract: Norway's penalty point system implies that traffic infractions are penalised with two or three points for full-licence drivers and four or six points for probationary-licence drivers, and when a total of eight points is reached within a three-year period the licence is revoked for a duration of six months. A web-based questionnaire was administered to four different driver samples based on number of acquired penalty points: (a) drivers with no points (n = 1206), (b) full-licence drivers with two or three points (n = 190), (c) full-licence drivers with four points or more (n = 172), and (d) probationary-licence drivers with four points or more (n = 193). Drivers with penalty points had better knowledge about the penalty points than those without penalty points. Drivers with four points or more, which means that they are close to the disqualification limit, to a greater extent replied that they have become more law-abiding, compared to those with few or no points. Also drivers without points reported that their driving was influenced by fear of penalty points. Thus, the penalty point system seems to have both a specific perceived deterrence effect on drivers who are at a high risk of losing their licence, and a general perceived deterrence effect on drivers without penalty points.