The principal aim of this study is to uncover the aetiology of drunken driving and speeding. Issues relevant to the prevention of these offences are also treated. The data were gathered by means of a mail questionnaire among 4500 licenced drivers. Furthermore, an ecological analysis of drunken driving rates is made. Path-analysis is employed for analysing data. The main findings are that alcohol consumption and moral attachment (to the drunken driving regulations) appear to be the strongest predictors of drunken driving. No evidence of simple deterrence is found. Age and motoring are found to be the most important predictors of speeding. Between speeding and perceived risks (of accident and detection) weak influences proceed in both directions. The divergences between the empirical models of speeding and of drunken driving are discussed. In 1975, an information programme against drunken driving was conducted. The campaign is evaluated by means of a pre- and postmeasurement which took the form of mail questionnaires. With some exceptions no appreciable change was noted between the two points of measurement. Possible reasons for this outcome are discussed. Finally, the following three issues are treated: methodological problems, assumptions implied by the deterrence doctrine, and policy implications.
Abstract