A procedure was set up for traffic regulation offenders participating in French rehabilitation training courses to make a commitment to observe speed limits. In our research, 624 offenders from different French “départements” attended the courses. These offenders were assigned to an experimental group, a comparison group or a control group. In the experimental group, about 53% of course participants publicly committed to observing speed limits each time they drove. The effect of commitment was tested by phone interviews repeated four times, approximately 12 days, 45 days, 3.5 months and 5.5 months after the courses. Results show a positive effect of commitment on self-reported speed limits at the short term and for more than 5 months after the courses. (Author/publisher)
Abstract