Does procedural justice predict intentions to speed? Evidence from a sample of young drivers

Abstract

Due to factors such as greater levels of sensation seeking and negative peer influences, travelling at speeds greater than the posted limit is common among young drivers. This has been shown to increase risk of death and serious injury in road crashes, and therefore, there is a need to identify theoretical perspectives that can be used to effectively inform intervention development. This study aimed to further develop an understanding of the influence of procedurally just interactions between young drivers and police on intentions to engage in speeding behaviours. A 30-minute online survey was completed by 2,124 young Queensland and Victorian (Australia) drivers. A regression analysis identified that young drivers who perceived higher levels of procedural justice in their interactions with police officers reported lower intentions to engage in speeding. This was after factors known to be associated with increased speeding intentions, such as sensation seeking, had been accounted for. These findings suggest that procedural justice is a candidate for consideration in the development of non-deterrence based speeding interventions for young drivers.