OPERATION OF DRIVER LICENCE DISQUALIFICATION AS A SANCTION - AUSTRALIA

• NCJ Number: 58601
• Author(s): C D ROBINSON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 142 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Melbourne
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Swinburne College of Technology
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM AN AUSTRALIAN STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DRIVER LICENSE CANCELLATION OR SUSPENSION AS A SANCTION FOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES.

Abstract

MAILED QUESTIONNAIRES WERE RETURNED BY 1,552 OF THE SUBJECTS IN A SAMPLE OF 4,492 WHOSE DRIVER LICENSES HAD BEEN SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED (37.2 PERCENT RESPONSE). THE QUESTIONNAIRE INCLUDED SECTIONS FOR THOSE WHO DROVE WHILE DISQUALIFIED AND THOSE WHO DID NOT DRIVE. THE STUDY WAS LIMITED TO VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. RESULTS SHOWED THAT 36.4 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS ADMITTED DRIVING WHILE DISQUALIFIED, WITH OVER 40 PERCENT OF THESE SUBJECTS DRIVING ON MORE THAN 20 OCCASIONS. THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR DRIVING WERE 'EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES,' NEED TO GET TO WORK, AND ALL TRANSPORT NEEDS. THOSE DRIVING WHILE DISQUALIFIED TENDED TO BE UNDER 40 YEARS OF AGE OR OVER 60 YEARS AND UNMARRIED OR SEPARATED, CONSIDERED DRIVING NECESSARY AS PART OF EMPLOYMENT, WERE CONVICTED OF LESS SERIOUS OFFENSES, AND HAD LICENSES CANCELLED RATHER THAN SUSPENDED. THE HIGHEST FREQUENCY OF VIOLATIONS WERE REPORTED BY SUBJECTS DISQUALIFIED FOR A PERIOD OF 1 TO 2 MONTHS. ONLY 15.4 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE KNEW THE PENALTY FOR DRIVING WHILE DISQUALIFIED. SUBJECTS WHO DID NOT DRIVE WHILE DISQUALIFIED HAD SUCCEEDED IN MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR ESSENTIAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS. IF THE SANCTION CONTINUES TO BE USED AS IT IS NOW, MEASURES SHOULD BE INTRODUCED TO INCREASE OFFENDERS' EXPECTATION OF APPREHENSION, SUCH AS RANDOM LICENSE CHECKS. ALSO, OFFENDERS SHOULD BE MORE CLEARLY WARNED AT THE TIME OF THEIR DISQUALIFICATION ABOUT THE PENALTIES FOR DRIVING WHILE DISQUALIFIED. THE USE OF THE SANCTION SHOULD BE CHANGED TO APPLY TO ONLY RELATIVELY SERIOUS OFFENDERS. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE CREATION OF A DRIVER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATE TRAFFIC PENALTIES IMPOSED ON OFFENDERS SHOULD BE RESEARCHED. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN A SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE AND AN INTRODUCTORY LETTER. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)