In the beginning of driving career the accident risk is four-or five-fold compared to experienced drivers. The aim of the study was to clarify and increase effectiveness of briefing to young 18-24 aged traffic offenders. Briefing held by police is obligatory if a young driver makes himself guilty to traffic offences twice in one year or three times in two years. The consequence can be temporal suspension of driving licence or warning. In the first phase of the study practice of briefing and experiences of police officers and offenders were clarified. In the next phase the offenders answered to a questionnaire and evaluated themselves as a driver. In the briefing session the answers were discussed. There was an aim to start a reflective self-monitoring process by an offender. The methods in data collection were questionnaires, interviews and observation of briefing sessions. The data was collected in years 1997-99. Drivers ordered to briefing were mainly males (90 %). Driving licence as suspended in 75 % of cases and duration of suspension was normally 2-3 weeks. The time between the offence and briefing was very long, usually 5 months. The offenders expected clearly longer periods of suspension and duration of briefing session often was only a few minutes. Both police officers and offender evaluated that effectiveness of briefing and suspension of licence was quite small. When the preliminary material was used in briefing, the content and dialogue improved and the evaluations of offenders were more positive compared to normal procedure. Evaluations of police officers were unchanged and quite sceptical in many cases. Conclusions: The time between offences and briefing is much too long and the duration of suspension of driving licence should be longer than 2-3 weeks. Preliminary material based on offender's self reports is useful in briefing. Selection and training of police officers working with young offenders' should be improved. (Author/publisher)
Abstract