The role of fines and rewards in the self-regulation of young drivers

Abstract

Purpose: The current study examined the relations between objective and subjective measures of driving patterns, focusing on traffic violations. In addition, the study explored the potential use of rewards in order to modify driving behaviors and examined the relationship between attitudinal and demographic variables and the frequency of speeding. Method: We acquired subjective and objective data on driving behaviors in a sample of 114 young student drivers in Israel’s Southern region. We used a survey to acquire data on the participants’ history of violations, self-reported driving behavior, and subjective attitudes towards risks and fines. We then examined the participants’ objective driving behaviors using Get Location, a specifically designed smartphone application. Results: We found a substantive gap between subjective and objective data regarding traffic violations, but they were also significantly correlated. The demographic variables, including gender, failed to distinguish between frequent and non-frequent speeders, while attitudinal variables succeeded. Frequent speeders required a significantly higher potential reward, as well as a higher fine to motivate behavioral changes. Conclusion: Self-reported data can serve as a reasonable proxy for measuring the tendency to adopt particular driving patterns, including the tendency to engage in violations. In addition, the use of rewards can complement or possibly replace the reliance on negative sanctions in order to modify behavior.