Fixed penalties for traffic law violations have been increased in Norway. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of increased fixed penalties on road user compliance with traffic law relating to speed limit violations and non-wearing of seat belts. Data from automatic traffic counting stations showed that the number of drivers violating speed limits increased between 1995 and 2003 and increases in fixed penalties for speeding had no effect on the percentage of violations. At speed camera locations, increased fixed penalties tended to be associated with a reduction in the percentage of violators. These inconsistencies were related to the differences in risk of apprehension between the two types of location. Seat belt wearing was shown to increase when the fixed penalty for not wearing them was increased. The effect was larger in urban areas than in rural areas. Fixed penalties for traffic violations tended to be higher in Norway than other highly motorised countries.
Abstract