Knowledge, perceived effectiveness and qualification of traffic rules, police supervision, sanctions and justice

Abstract

Road safety is a complex process that not only depends on technical and environmental improvements, but in a major part from human factors. In this sense, recent empirical studies have remarked the need to study the interaction between subject and laws, at the glance of several elements preceding road behavior. This is the case of attitudes, opinions and perceptions in the field of road safety, factors that influence the interaction with issues such as traffic rules, police supervision, penalties and justice in traffic. The objective of this study was to describe the self-rated knowledge and perceptions regarding traffic norms and its interaction with road safety among drivers. For this study, a sample of 1,100 Spanish drivers was obtained from a national sampling process. The results showed that the clear majority of drivers consider they know in a sufficient manner the traffic norms, and consider them as effective. Concerning police supervision, almost 70% of them consider that it is effective, but generally assumes that traffic agents prefer to be located in strategical places to catch offenders, rather than in really dangerous places. Regarding sanctions, drivers conceived the punishment to road offenders principally as educational and tax-collection measures. Finally, the general assessment of justice in traffic provided by Spanish drivers has shown a regular-low valuation degree. The obtained results invite to discuss about the interaction between traffic norms and road user, with the aim of promoting a positive law enforcement as a manner to build road safety culture.

Keywords:

• road safety
• traffic rules
• police supervision
• sanction
• justice

Public Interest Statement

Road safety is a complex process, that not only depends on environmental and technical advances. In fact, from 70% to 80% of road accidents and injuries are scientifically considered as derived from human behavior. For this reason, it is important to understand the relationship between road users and traffic norms, supervision, sanction and justice in general. In this study, aimed to describe the knowledge and perceptions of drivers regarding traffic norms and its interaction with road safety, it has been observed that most of drivers affirm to know traffic rules and consider it as effective. However, and regarding police control and traffic fines, drivers tend to assume that the main reasons for this facts are merely economical, or perhaps educative. It becomes relevant to discuss about traffic normative-road user interaction, with the aim of promoting a positive law enforcement among road users, as a manner to improve road safety culture.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Francisco Alonso

Francisco Alonso, Psychologist and PhD from the University of Valencia (Spain). Master in Communication and Master in Strategic Consulting. Associate professor (Faculty of Psychology). Expert in Traffic and Road Safety. Director of the INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), an interdisciplinary research Centre of the University of Valencia.

Cristina Esteban

Cristina Esteban, Psychologist and PhD from the University of Valencia (Spain). Associate professor (Faculty of Psychology). Expert in Traffic, Road Safety and Road Education. Member of the Development and Advising in Traffic Safety (DATS) group (INTRAS).

Luis Montoro

Luis Montoro, Psychologist and PhD from the University of Valencia (Spain). Full professor (Faculty of Psychology). Expert in Traffic and Road Safety. Director of the Human Factor and Road Safety (FACTHUM.lab) group (INTRAS).

Sergio A. Useche

Sergio A. Useche, Psychologist and MA in Psychology from the University of Los Andes, in Bogotá (Colombia). Doctoral Student and researcher at the University of Valencia, Spain. Consultant in Work Health and Road Safety. Member of DATS group (INTRAS).