In 1990, the national and local police carried out an experimental integral traffic enforcement policy in the subregion of Leyden (situated in the western part of the Netherlands). The purpose of the experiment (See also IRRD 855462 and 855464) was to combine the enforcement on different important traffic offences as much as possible in order to increase efficiency. The experimental enforcement was concerned with: drinking and driving of road users, speeding, the use of seat belts, and the use of helmets by moped riders. Besides police enforcement, the experiment also consisted of publicity. However, the enforcement on the use of helmets was not combined with enforcement on the three other forms of traffic behaviour, but with technical moped controls. The enforcement was rather limited in magnitude and action against the wrong use of helmets was barely covered. Publicity was also more limited than for drinking and driving, speeding and belt use. The effects of enforcement and publicity were investigated by means of a before and after study on the use of helmets, to which a few questions were linked in order to get an insight into the attitude of moped riders to helmet use and their evaluation of the risk of being caught. The results of the before and after study showed a slight improvement in the use of the helmet, especially regarding fastening the chin strap. This was accompanied with a slightly, non-significant improvement of attitudes towards wearing the helmet. Despite a slight improvement in the use of moped helmets, the use of them appeared to be alarming. Due to enforcement and publicity, the subjective chance of being caught has not been increased. It is pointed out that it is not possible to make recommendations about combining enforcement on helmet usage (or not) with enforcement on other traffic offences. However, it appears from the results of the before and after study that increasing the possibility of being caught can lead to better helmet use. The same is true for an improvement of the attitude of moped riders towards wearing a helmet. Reward programmes, mainly concerning the attachment of the chin strap, possibly form a good supplement to increasing the chance of being caught.
Abstract