In a study on the influence of police enforcement on speeding behaviour on motorways, three enforcement related variables were manipulated. Firstly, the intensity of enforcement was varied into three probability levels for apprehension in case of speeding. The strategy used at all levels consisted of unobstrusive speed checks by radar in combination with obstrusive stopping of offenders. Secondly, the enforcement strategy itself was manipulated by comparing obstrusive apprehension of offenders alongside the road with fining unobstrusively registered violators by warrants sent to their home address. In both conditions the highest intensity level was used. Thirdly, the period of time between the registration of the offence and the confrontation with the consequences by the offender (for home mailed warrants) was varied. That is to say, the regular dispatch procedure was compared with a condition in which the offenders were informed about registration of their offence by a feedback letter as soon as possible. The results of the study show that obtrusive apprehension alongside the road turned out to be more effective than home maled warrants.
Samenvatting