Can carrots improve the focus of young drivers? The ACT Safe Young Driver Awards Scheme.

Author(s)
Anderson, R. & Davies, R.
Year
Abstract

Traditionally, road safety interventions rely on 'sticks' (regulations and sanctions backed by enforcement and penalties) rather than 'carrots' (incentive-based programs) to improve driver behaviour. The ACT Safe Young Driver Awards Scheme (SYDAS) is an attempt to redress this imbalance for a high-risk group, namely young drivers. SYDAS is a joint initiative of the Australian College of Road Safety (ACT and Region Chapter) and the ACT Department of Education and Community Services. SYDAS is now operating in eight ACT colleges. It is managed by college student bodies; targetted at provisional drivers; and provides a hierarchy of rewards for displaying desirable driving behaviour. This paper outlines the rationale for SYDAS; how it has been implemented, reviewed and improved; and provides some assessment of its results. The conclusion is that 'carrot type' programs, if patiently nurtured and presented appetisingly, can help improve road safety focus - not only for young drivers, but also for the wider community. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E202275.

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Publication

Library number
C 38309 (In: C 38292 CD-ROM) /83 / ITRD E202292
Source

In: Proceedings of the 2nd Road Safety Research, Policing and Education Conference, University House, Canberra, Australia, 28-30 November 1999, p. 305-310, 3 ref.

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This publication is one of our other publications, and part of our extensive collection of road safety literature, that also includes the SWOV publications.